Processing window design for positioning

ABSTRACT

Techniques are provided in which a target UE can be provided with a processing window (PW) configuration that defines a PW during which the target UE may measure one or more RS resources. The PW optionally may allow the target UE to transmit an uplink (UL) RS. The PW configuration may be provided to the target UE by a serving base station of the target UE in response to a request for the PW configuration by the target UE or a location server. The request may include information regarding an RS configuration provided to the target UE.

BACKGROUND 1. Field of Disclosure

The present disclosure relates generally to the field of wirelesscommunications, and more specifically to relates to the processing ofradio frequency (RF) signals for the positioning of a mobile device.

2. Description of Related Art

In a Fifth Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) mobile communication network,a network node (e.g., base station or reference user equipment (UE)) maytransmit a reference signal (RS) that can be measured at a target UE todetermine the location of the target UE using any of a variety ofnetwork-based positioning methods. An increase in a number of signalsmeasured by the target UE can result in an increase in accuracy. Thetarget UE can be configured to measure some signals during a measurementgap (MG), but there are limitations to how an MG may be used.

BRIEF SUMMARY

Techniques are provided in which a target UE can be provided with aprocessing window (PW) configuration that defines a PW during which thetarget UE may measure one or more RS resources. The PW optionally mayallow the target UE to transmit an uplink (UL) RS. The PW configurationmay be provided to the target UE by a serving base station of the targetUE in response to a request for the PW configuration by the target UE ora location server. The request may include information regarding an RSconfiguration provided to the target UE.

An example method of coordinating reference signal (RS) processing at auser equipment (UE), according to this disclosure, may comprisereceiving, at the UE, an RS configuration indicative of a timing of oneor more RS resources. The method also may comprise obtaining aprocessing window (PW) configuration based at least in part on the RSconfiguration, wherein the PW configuration comprises informationindicative of: one or more RS reception times of at least one PW forperforming one or more measurements of the one or more RS resources, anda processing time of the at least one PW. The method also may compriseperforming the one or more measurements with the UE during the one ormore RS reception times of the at least one PW.

An example method of coordinating reference signal (RS) processing for auser equipment (UE), according to this disclosure, may comprisereceiving, at a base station, a request for a processing window (PW)configuration for the UE, wherein the base station comprises a servingbase station of the UE, and the request includes information indicativeof an RS configuration, the RS configuration indicative of a timing ofone or more RS resources. The method also may comprise determining, atthe base station, the PW configuration based at least in part on theinformation indicative of the RS configuration, wherein the PWconfiguration comprises information indicative of: one or more RSreception times of at least one PW for performing one or moremeasurements of the one or more RS resources, and a processing time ofthe at least one PW.

An example user equipment (UE) for coordinating reference signal (RS)processing, according to this disclosure, may comprise a transceiver, amemory, one or more processors communicatively coupled with thetransceiver and the memory, wherein the one or more processors areconfigured to receive, via the transceiver, an RS configurationindicative of a timing of one or more RS resources. The one or moreprocessors further may be configured to obtain a processing window (PW)configuration based at least in part on the RS configuration, whereinthe PW configuration comprises information indicative of: one or more RSreception times of at least one PW for performing one or moremeasurements of the one or more RS resources, and a processing time ofthe at least one PW. The one or more processors further may beconfigured to perform the one or more measurements, using thetransceiver, during the one or more RS reception times of the at leastone PW.

An example base station for coordinating reference signal (RS)processing for a user equipment (UE), according to this disclosure, maycomprise a transceiver, a memory, one or more processors communicativelycoupled with the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to receive, via the transceiver, a request fora processing window (PW) configuration for the UE, wherein: the basestation comprises a serving base station of the UE, and the requestincludes information indicative of an RS configuration, the RSconfiguration indicative of a timing of one or more RS resources. Theone or more processors further may be configured to determine the PWconfiguration based at least in part on the information indicative ofthe RS configuration, wherein the PW configuration comprises informationindicative of: one or more RS reception times of at least one PW forperforming one or more measurements of the one or more RS resources, anda processing time of the at least one PW.

This summary is neither intended to identify key or essential featuresof the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used inisolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. Thesubject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portionsof the entire specification of this disclosure, any or all drawings, andeach claim. The foregoing, together with other features and examples,will be described in more detail below in the following specification,claims, and accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram of a positioning system, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 2 is a diagram of a 5th Generation (5G) New Radio (NR) positioningsystem, illustrating an embodiment of a positioning system (e.g., thepositioning system of FIG. 1 ) implemented within a 5G NR communicationsystem.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating an example of beamforming that can beused by difference devices, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a frame structure for NR andassociated terminology.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a radio frame sequence withPositioning Reference Signal (PRS) positioning occasions.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing example combination (comb) structures,illustrating how RF signals may utilize different sets of resourceelements, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 7 is as a diagram of a hierarchical structure of how PRS resourcesand PRS resource sets may be used by different Transmission ReceptionPoint (TRPs) of a given position frequency layer (PFL), as defined in 5GNR.

FIG. 8 is a time diagram illustrating two different options for slotusage of a resource set, according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flow diagrams illustrating examples of how a processincluding request for a processing window (PW) configuration from anetwork node may be implemented, according to some embodiments.

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating various components of a PW, accordingto an embodiment.

FIG. 12 illustrates a basic example of the merger of two PW fragments,according to an embodiment.

FIGS. 13A-15B are diagrams illustrating different types of mergersbetween PW fragments, according to different embodiments.

FIG. 16 is a diagram illustrating how value of time difference τ betweenPW fragments may be defined in different ways, depending on desiredfunctionality.

FIG. 17 is a diagram of slot usage of a resource set, similar to FIG. 8, illustrating how PWs may be determined in muted and non-mutedscenarios.

FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of a method of coordinating RS processing at aUE, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of a method of coordinating RS processing fora UE, according to an embodiment.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a UE, which can beutilized in embodiments as described herein.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a base station, which canbe utilized in embodiments as described herein.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer system, whichcan be utilized in embodiments as described herein.

Like reference symbols in the various drawings indicate like elements,in accordance with certain example implementations. In addition,multiple instances of an element may be indicated by following a firstnumber for the element with a letter or a hyphen and a second number.For example, multiple instances of an element 110 may be indicated as110-1, 110-2, 110-3 etc. or as 110 a, 110 b, 110 c, etc. When referringto such an element using only the first number, any instance of theelement is to be understood (e.g., element 110 in the previous examplewould refer to elements 110-1, 110-2, and 110-3 or to elements 110 a,110 b, and 110 c).

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The following description is directed to certain implementations for thepurposes of describing innovative aspects of various embodiments.However, a person having ordinary skill in the art will readilyrecognize that the teachings herein can be applied in a multitude ofdifferent ways. The described implementations may be implemented in anydevice, system, or network that is capable of transmitting and receivingradio frequency (RF) signals according to any communication standard,such as any of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers(IEEE) IEEE 802.11 standards (including those identified as Wi-Fi®technologies), the Bluetooth® standard, code division multiple access(CDMA), frequency division multiple access (FDMA), time divisionmultiple access (TDMA), Global System for Mobile communications (GSM),GSM/General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), Enhanced Data GSM Environment(EDGE), Terrestrial Trunked Radio (TETRA), Wideband-CDMA (W-CDMA),Evolution Data Optimized (EV-DO), 1×EV-DO, EV-DO Rev A, EV-DO Rev B,High Rate Packet Data (HRPD), High Speed Packet Access (HSPA), HighSpeed Downlink Packet Access (HSDPA), High Speed Uplink Packet Access(HSUPA), Evolved High Speed Packet Access (HSPA+), Long Term Evolution(LTE), Advanced Mobile Phone System (AMPS), or other known signals thatare used to communicate within a wireless, cellular or internet ofthings (IoT) network, such as a system utilizing 3G, 4G, 5G, 6G, orfurther implementations thereof, technology.

As used herein, an “RF signal” comprises an electromagnetic wave thattransports information through the space between a transmitter (ortransmitting device) and a receiver (or receiving device). As usedherein, a transmitter may transmit a single “RF signal” or multiple “RFsignals” to a receiver. However, the receiver may receive multiple “RFsignals” corresponding to each transmitted RF signal due to thepropagation characteristics of RF signals through multiple channels orpaths.

Additionally, unless otherwise specified, references to “referencesignals,” “positioning reference signals,” “reference signals forpositioning,” and the like may be used to refer to signals used forpositioning of a user equipment (UE). Such a signal is genericallyreferred to herein as a reference signal (RS). As described in moredetail herein, such signals may comprise any of a variety of signaltypes but may not necessarily be limited to a Positioning ReferenceSignal (PRS) as defined in relevant wireless standards.

As described in further detail hereafter, embodiments herein allow forthe use by a UE of a processing window (PW) for processing referencesignals for positioning the UE. According to some embodiments, this canbe done without the use of a measurement gap (MG), allowing the UE tomeasure reference signals inside an active downlink (DL) bandwidth part(BWP). Such measurements may be used alone or in conjunction with othermeasurements (e.g., which may have utilized an MG) for positioning ofthe UE. Additional details will follow after an initial description ofrelevant systems and technologies.

FIG. 1 is a simplified illustration of a positioning system 100 in whicha UE 105, location server 160, and/or other components of thepositioning system 100 can use the techniques provided herein for PWdesign for positioning of the UE 105, according to an embodiment. Thetechniques described herein may be implemented by one or more componentsof the positioning system 100. The positioning system 100 can include: aUE 105; one or more satellites 110 (also referred to as space vehicles(SVs)) for a Global Navigation Satellite System (GNSS) such as theGlobal Positioning System (GPS), GLONASS, Galileo or Beidou; basestations 120; access points (APs) 130; location server 160; network 170;and external client 180. Generally put, the positioning system 100 canestimate a location of the UE 105 based on RF signals received by and/orsent from the UE 105 and known locations of other components (e.g., GNSSsatellites 110, base stations 120, APs 130) transmitting and/orreceiving the RF signals. Additional details regarding particularlocation estimation techniques are discussed in more detail with regardto FIG. 2 .

It should be noted that FIG. 1 provides only a generalized illustrationof various components, any or all of which may be utilized asappropriate, and each of which may be duplicated as necessary.Specifically, although only one UE 105 is illustrated, it will beunderstood that many UEs (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions, etc.) mayutilize the positioning system 100. Similarly, the positioning system100 may include a larger or smaller number of base stations 120 and/orAPs 130 than illustrated in FIG. 1 . The illustrated connections thatconnect the various components in the positioning system 100 comprisedata and signaling connections which may include additional(intermediary) components, direct or indirect physical and/or wirelessconnections, and/or additional networks. Furthermore, components may berearranged, combined, separated, substituted, and/or omitted, dependingon desired functionality. In some embodiments, for example, the externalclient 180 may be directly connected to location server 160. A person ofordinary skill in the art will recognize many modifications to thecomponents illustrated.

Depending on desired functionality, the network 170 may comprise any ofa variety of wireless and/or wireline networks. The network 170 can, forexample, comprise any combination of public and/or private networks,local and/or wide-area networks, and the like. Furthermore, the network170 may utilize one or more wired and/or wireless communicationtechnologies. In some embodiments, the network 170 may comprise acellular or other mobile network, a wireless local area network (WLAN),a wireless wide-area network (WWAN), and/or the Internet, for example.Examples of network 170 include a Long-Term Evolution (LTE) wirelessnetwork, a Fifth Generation (5G) wireless network (also referred to asNew Radio (NR) wireless network or 5G NR wireless network), a Wi-FiWLAN, and the Internet. LTE, 5G and NR are wireless technologiesdefined, or being defined, by the 3rd Generation Partnership Project(3GPP). Network 170 may also include more than one network and/or morethan one type of network.

The base stations 120 and access points (APs) 130 may be communicativelycoupled to the network 170. In some embodiments, the base station 120 smay be owned, maintained, and/or operated by a cellular networkprovider, and may employ any of a variety of wireless technologies, asdescribed herein below. Depending on the technology of the network 170,a base station 120 may comprise a node B, an Evolved Node B (eNodeB oreNB), a base transceiver station (BTS), a radio base station (RBS), anNR NodeB (gNB), a Next Generation eNB (ng-eNB), or the like. A basestation 120 that is a gNB or ng-eNB may be part of a Next GenerationRadio Access Network (NG-RAN) which may connect to a 5G Core Network(5GC) in the case that Network 170 is a 5G network. An AP 130 maycomprise a Wi-Fi AP or a Bluetooth® AP or an AP having cellularcapabilities (e.g., 4G LTE and/or 5G NR), for example. Thus, UE 105 cansend and receive information with network-connected devices, such aslocation server 160, by accessing the network 170 via a base station 120using a first communication link 133. Additionally or alternatively,because APs 130 also may be communicatively coupled with the network170, UE 105 may communicate with network-connected andInternet-connected devices, including location server 160, using asecond communication link 135, or via one or more other UEs 145.

As used herein, the term “base station” may generically refer to asingle physical transmission point, or multiple co-located physicaltransmission points, which may be located at a base station 120. ATransmission Reception Point (TRP) (also known as transmit/receivepoint) corresponds to this type of transmission point, and the term“TRP” may be used interchangeably herein with the terms “gNB,” “ng-eNB,”and “base station.” In some cases, a base station 120 may comprisemultiple TRPs—e.g. with each TRP associated with a different antenna ora different antenna array for the base station 120. Physicaltransmission points may comprise an array of antennas of a base station120 (e.g., as in a Multiple Input-Multiple Output (MIMO) system and/orwhere the base station employs beamforming). The term “base station” mayadditionally refer to multiple non-co-located physical transmissionpoints, the physical transmission points may be a Distributed AntennaSystem (DAS) (a network of spatially separated antennas connected to acommon source via a transport medium) or a Remote Radio Head (RRH) (aremote base station connected to a serving base station).

As used herein, the term “cell” may generically refer to a logicalcommunication entity used for communication with a base station 120, andmay be associated with an identifier for distinguishing neighboringcells (e.g., a Physical Cell Identifier (PCID), a Virtual CellIdentifier (VCID)) operating via the same or a different carrier. Insome examples, a carrier may support multiple cells, and different cellsmay be configured according to different protocol types (e.g.,Machine-Type Communication (MTC), Narrowband Internet-of-Things(NB-IoT), Enhanced Mobile Broadband (eMBB), or others) that may provideaccess for different types of devices. In some cases, the term “cell”may refer to a portion of a geographic coverage area (e.g., a sector)over which the logical entity operates.

The location server 160 may comprise a server and/or other computingdevice configured to determine an estimated location of UE 105 and/orprovide data (e.g., “assistance data”) to UE 105 to facilitate locationmeasurement and/or location determination by UE 105. According to someembodiments, location server 160 may comprise a Home Secure User PlaneLocation (SUPL) Location Platform (H-SLP), which may support the SUPLuser plane (UP) location solution defined by the Open Mobile Alliance(OMA) and may support location services for UE 105 based on subscriptioninformation for UE 105 stored in location server 160. In someembodiments, the location server 160 may comprise, a Discovered SLP(D-SLP) or an Emergency SLP (E-SLP). The location server 160 may alsocomprise an Enhanced Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) thatsupports location of UE 105 using a control plane (CP) location solutionfor LTE radio access by UE 105. The location server 160 may furthercomprise a Location Management Function (LMF) that supports location ofUE 105 using a control plane (CP) location solution for NR or LTE radioaccess by UE 105.

In a CP location solution, signaling to control and manage the locationof UE 105 may be exchanged between elements of network 170 and with UE105 using existing network interfaces and protocols and as signalingfrom the perspective of network 170. In a UP location solution,signaling to control and manage the location of UE 105 may be exchangedbetween location server 160 and UE 105 as data (e.g. data transportedusing the Internet Protocol (IP) and/or Transmission Control Protocol(TCP)) from the perspective of network 170.

As previously noted (and discussed in more detail below), the estimatedlocation of UE 105 may be based on measurements of RF signals sent fromand/or received by the UE 105. In particular, these measurements canprovide information regarding the relative distance and/or angle of theUE 105 from one or more components in the positioning system 100 (e.g.,GNSS satellites 110, APs 130, base stations 120). The estimated locationof the UE 105 can be estimated geometrically (e.g., usingmultiangulation and/or multilateration), based on the distance and/orangle measurements, along with known position of the one or morecomponents.

Although terrestrial components such as APs 130 and base stations 120may be fixed, embodiments are not so limited. Mobile components may beused. For example, in some embodiments, a location of the UE 105 may beestimated at least in part based on measurements of RF signals 140communicated between the UE 105 and one or more other UEs 145, which maybe mobile or fixed. When or more other UEs 145 are used in the positiondetermination of a particular UE 105, the UE 105 for which the positionis to be determined may be referred to as the “target UE,” and each ofthe one or more other UEs 145 used may be referred to as an “anchor UE.”For position determination of a target UE, the respective positions ofthe one or more anchor UEs may be known and/or jointly determined withthe target UE. Direct communication between the one or more other UEs145 and UE 105 may comprise sidelink and/or similar Device-to-Device(D2D) communication technologies. Sidelink, which is defined by 3GPP, isa form of D2D communication under the cellular-based LTE and NRstandards.

An estimated location of UE 105 can be used in a variety ofapplications—e.g. to assist direction finding or navigation for a userof UE 105 or to assist another user (e.g. associated with externalclient 180) to locate UE 105. A “location” is also referred to herein asa “location estimate”, “estimated location”, “location”, “position”,“position estimate”, “position fix”, “estimated position”, “locationfix” or “fix”. The process of determining a location may be referred toas “positioning,” “position determination,” “location determination,” orthe like. A location of UE 105 may comprise an absolute location of UE105 (e.g. a latitude and longitude and possibly altitude) or a relativelocation of UE 105 (e.g. a location expressed as distances north orsouth, east or west and possibly above or below some other known fixedlocation (including, e.g., the location of a base station 120 or AP 130)or some other location such as a location for UE 105 at some knownprevious time, or a location of another UE 145 at some known previoustime). A location may be specified as a geodetic location comprisingcoordinates which may be absolute (e.g. latitude, longitude andoptionally altitude), relative (e.g. relative to some known absolutelocation) or local (e.g. X, Y and optionally Z coordinates according toa coordinate system defined relative to a local area such a factory,warehouse, college campus, shopping mall, sports stadium or conventioncenter). A location may instead be a civic location and may thencomprise one or more of a street address (e.g. including names or labelsfor a country, state, county, city, road and/or street, and/or a road orstreet number), and/or a label or name for a place, building, portion ofa building, floor of a building, and/or room inside a building etc. Alocation may further include an uncertainty or error indication, such asa horizontal and possibly vertical distance by which the location isexpected to be in error or an indication of an area or volume (e.g. acircle or ellipse) within which UE 105 is expected to be located withsome level of confidence (e.g. 95% confidence).

The external client 180 may be a web server or remote application thatmay have some association with UE 105 (e.g. may be accessed by a user ofUE 105) or may be a server, application, or computer system providing alocation service to some other user or users which may include obtainingand providing the location of UE 105 (e.g. to enable a service such asfriend or relative finder, or child or pet location). Additionally oralternatively, the external client 180 may obtain and provide thelocation of UE 105 to an emergency services provider, government agency,etc.

As previously noted, the example positioning system 100 can beimplemented using a wireless communication network, such as an LTE-basedor 5G NR-based network. FIG. 2 shows a diagram of a 5G NR positioningsystem 200, illustrating an embodiment of a positioning system (e.g.,positioning system 100) implementing 5G NR. The 5G NR positioning system200 may be configured to determine the location of a UE 105 by usingaccess nodes, which may include NR NodeB (gNB) 210-1 and 210-2(collectively and generically referred to herein as gNBs 210), ng-eNB214, and/or WLAN 216 to implement one or more positioning methods. ThegNBs 210 and/or the ng-eNB 214 may correspond with base stations 120 ofFIG. 1 , and the WLAN 216 may correspond with one or more access points130 of FIG. 1 . Optionally, the 5G NR positioning system 200additionally may be configured to determine the location of a UE 105 byusing an LMF 220 (which may correspond with location server 160) toimplement the one or more positioning methods. Here, the 5G NRpositioning system 200 comprises a UE 105, and components of a 5G NRnetwork comprising a Next Generation (NG) Radio Access Network (RAN)(NG-RAN) 235 and a 5G Core Network (5G CN) 240. A 5G network may also bereferred to as an NR network; NG-RAN 235 may be referred to as a 5G RANor as an NR RAN; and 5G CN 240 may be referred to as an NG Core network.The 5G NR positioning system 200 may further utilize information fromGNSS satellites 110 from a GNSS system like Global Positioning System(GPS) or similar system (e.g. GLONASS, Galileo, Beidou, Indian RegionalNavigational Satellite System (IRNSS)). Additional components of the 5GNR positioning system 200 are described below. The 5G NR positioningsystem 200 may include additional or alternative components.

It should be noted that FIG. 2 provides only a generalized illustrationof various components, any or all of which may be utilized asappropriate, and each of which may be duplicated or omitted asnecessary. Specifically, although only one UE 105 is illustrated, itwill be understood that many UEs (e.g., hundreds, thousands, millions,etc.) may utilize the 5G NR positioning system 200. Similarly, the 5G NRpositioning system 200 may include a larger (or smaller) number of GNSSsatellites 110, gNBs 210, ng-eNBs 214, Wireless Local Area Networks(WLANs) 216, Access and mobility Management Functions (AMF)s 215,external clients 230, and/or other components. The illustratedconnections that connect the various components in the 5G NR positioningsystem 200 include data and signaling connections which may includeadditional (intermediary) components, direct or indirect physical and/orwireless connections, and/or additional networks. Furthermore,components may be rearranged, combined, separated, substituted, and/oromitted, depending on desired functionality.

The UE 105 may comprise and/or be referred to as a device, a mobiledevice, a wireless device, a mobile terminal, a terminal, a mobilestation (MS), a Secure User Plane Location (SUPL)-Enabled Terminal(SET), or by some other name. Moreover, UE 105 may correspond to acellphone, smartphone, laptop, tablet, personal data assistant (PDA),navigation device, Internet of Things (IoT) device, or some otherportable or moveable device. Typically, though not necessarily, the UE105 may support wireless communication using one or more Radio AccessTechnologies (RATs) such as using GSM, CDMA, W-CDMA, LTE, High RatePacket Data (HRPD), IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi®, Bluetooth, WorldwideInteroperability for Microwave Access (WiMAX™), 5G NR (e.g., using theNG-RAN 235 and 5G CN 240), etc. The UE 105 may also support wirelesscommunication using a WLAN 216 which (like the one or more RATs, and aspreviously noted with respect to FIG. 1 ) may connect to other networks,such as the Internet. The use of one or more of these RATs may allow theUE 105 to communicate with an external client 230 (e.g., via elements of5G CN 240 not shown in FIG. 2 , or possibly via a Gateway MobileLocation Center (GMLC) 225) and/or allow the external client 230 toreceive location information regarding the UE 105 (e.g., via the GMLC225). The external client 230 of FIG. 2 may correspond to externalclient 180 of FIG. 1 , as implemented in or communicatively coupled witha 5G NR network.

The UE 105 may include a single entity or may include multiple entities,such as in a personal area network where a user may employ audio, videoand/or data I/O devices, and/or body sensors and a separate wireline orwireless modem. An estimate of a location of the UE 105 may be referredto as a location, location estimate, location fix, fix, position,position estimate, or position fix, and may be geodetic, thus providinglocation coordinates for the UE 105 (e.g., latitude and longitude),which may or may not include an altitude component (e.g., height abovesea level, height above or depth below ground level, floor level orbasement level). Alternatively, a location of the UE 105 may beexpressed as a civic location (e.g., as a postal address or thedesignation of some point or small area in a building such as aparticular room or floor). A location of the UE 105 may also beexpressed as an area or volume (defined either geodetically or in civicform) within which the UE 105 is expected to be located with someprobability or confidence level (e.g., 67%, 95%, etc.). A location ofthe UE 105 may further be a relative location comprising, for example, adistance and direction or relative X, Y (and Z) coordinates definedrelative to some origin at a known location which may be definedgeodetically, in civic terms, or by reference to a point, area, orvolume indicated on a map, floor plan or building plan. In thedescription contained herein, the use of the term location may compriseany of these variants unless indicated otherwise. When computing thelocation of a UE, it is common to solve for local X, Y, and possibly Zcoordinates and then, if needed, convert the local coordinates intoabsolute ones (e.g. for latitude, longitude and altitude above or belowmean sea level).

Base stations in the NG-RAN 235 shown in FIG. 2 may correspond to basestations 120 in FIG. 1 and may include gNBs 210. Pairs of gNBs 210 inNG-RAN 235 may be connected to one another (e.g., directly as shown inFIG. 2 or indirectly via other gNBs 210). The communication interfacebetween base stations (gNBs 210 and/or ng-eNB 214) may be referred to asan Xn interface 237. Access to the 5G network is provided to UE 105 viawireless communication between the UE 105 and one or more of the gNBs210, which may provide wireless communications access to the 5G CN 240on behalf of the UE 105 using 5G NR. The wireless interface between basestations (gNBs 210 and/or ng-eNB 214) and the UE 105 may be referred toas a Uu interface 239. 5G NR radio access may also be referred to as NRradio access or as 5G radio access. In FIG. 2 , the serving gNB for UE105 is assumed to be gNB 210-1, although other gNBs (e.g. gNB 210-2) mayact as a serving gNB if UE 105 moves to another location or may act as asecondary gNB to provide additional throughput and bandwidth to UE 105.

Base stations in the NG-RAN 235 shown in FIG. 2 may also or insteadinclude a next generation evolved Node B, also referred to as an ng-eNB,214. Ng-eNB 214 may be connected to one or more gNBs 210 in NG-RAN235—e.g. directly or indirectly via other gNBs 210 and/or other ng-eNBs.An ng-eNB 214 may provide LTE wireless access and/or evolved LTE (eLTE)wireless access to UE 105. Some gNBs 210 (e.g. gNB 210-2) and/or ng-eNB214 in FIG. 2 may be configured to function as positioning-only beaconswhich may transmit signals (e.g., Positioning Reference Signal (PRS))and/or may broadcast assistance data to assist positioning of UE 105 butmay not receive signals from UE 105 or from other UEs. Some gNBs 210(e.g., gNB 210-2 and/or another gNB not shown) and/or ng-eNB 214 may beconfigured to function as detecting-only nodes may scan for signalscontaining, e.g., PRS data, assistance data, or other location data.Such detecting-only nodes may not transmit signals or data to UEs butmay transmit signals or data (relating to, e.g., PRS, assistance data,or other location data) to other network entities (e.g., one or morecomponents of 5G CN 240, external client 230, or a controller) which mayreceive and store or use the data for positioning of at least UE 105. Itis noted that while only one ng-eNB 214 is shown in FIG. 2 , someembodiments may include multiple ng-eNBs 214. Base stations (e.g., gNBs210 and/or ng-eNB 214) may communicate directly with one another via anXn communication interface. Additionally or alternatively, base stationsmay communicate directly or indirectly with other components of the 5GNR positioning system 200, such as the LMF 220 and AMF 215.

5G NR positioning system 200 may also include one or more WLANs 216which may connect to a Non-3GPP InterWorking Function (N3IWF) 250 in the5G CN 240 (e.g., in the case of an untrusted WLAN 216). For example, theWLAN 216 may support IEEE 802.11 Wi-Fi access for UE 105 and maycomprise one or more Wi-Fi APs (e.g., APs 130 of FIG. 1 ). Here, theN3IWF 250 may connect to other elements in the 5G CN 240 such as AMF215. In some embodiments, WLAN 216 may support another RAT such asBluetooth. The N3IWF 250 may provide support for secure access by UE 105to other elements in 5G CN 240 and/or may support interworking of one ormore protocols used by WLAN 216 and UE 105 to one or more protocols usedby other elements of 5G CN 240 such as AMF 215. For example, N3IWF 250may support IPSec tunnel establishment with UE 105, termination ofIKEv2/IPSec protocols with UE 105, termination of N2 and N3 interfacesto 5G CN 240 for control plane and user plane, respectively, relaying ofuplink (UL) and downlink (DL) control plane Non-Access Stratum (NAS)signaling between UE 105 and AMF 215 across an N1 interface. In someother embodiments, WLAN 216 may connect directly to elements in 5G CN240 (e.g. AMF 215 as shown by the dashed line in FIG. 2 ) and not viaN3IWF 250. For example, direct connection of WLAN 216 to SGCN 240 mayoccur if WLAN 216 is a trusted WLAN for SGCN 240 and may be enabledusing a Trusted WLAN Interworking Function (TWIF) (not shown in FIG. 2 )which may be an element inside WLAN 216. It is noted that while only oneWLAN 216 is shown in FIG. 2 , some embodiments may include multipleWLANs 216.

Access nodes may comprise any of a variety of network entities enablingcommunication between the UE 105 and the AMF 215. As noted, this caninclude gNBs 210, ng-eNB 214, WLAN 216, and/or other types of cellularbase stations. However, access nodes providing the functionalitydescribed herein may additionally or alternatively include entitiesenabling communications to any of a variety of RATs not illustrated inFIG. 2 , which may include non-cellular technologies. Thus, the term“access node,” as used in the embodiments described herein below, mayinclude but is not necessarily limited to a gNB 210, ng-eNB 214 or WLAN216.

In some embodiments, an access node, such as a gNB 210, ng-eNB 214,and/or WLAN 216 (alone or in combination with other components of the 5GNR positioning system 200), may be configured to, in response toreceiving a request for location information from the LMF 220, obtainlocation measurements of uplink (UL) signals received from the UE 105)and/or obtain downlink (DL) location measurements from the UE 105 thatwere obtained by UE 105 for DL signals received by UE 105 from one ormore access nodes. As noted, while FIG. 2 depicts access nodes (gNB 210,ng-eNB 214, and WLAN 216) configured to communicate according to 5G NR,LTE, and Wi-Fi communication protocols, respectively, access nodesconfigured to communicate according to other communication protocols maybe used, such as, for example, a Node B using a Wideband Code DivisionMultiple Access (WCDMA) protocol for a Universal MobileTelecommunications Service (UMTS) Terrestrial Radio Access Network(UTRAN), an eNB using an LTE protocol for an Evolved UTRAN (E-UTRAN), ora Bluetooth® beacon using a Bluetooth protocol for a WLAN. For example,in a 4G Evolved Packet System (EPS) providing LTE wireless access to UE105, a RAN may comprise an E-UTRAN, which may comprise base stationscomprising eNBs supporting LTE wireless access. A core network for EPSmay comprise an Evolved Packet Core (EPC). An EPS may then comprise anE-UTRAN plus an EPC, where the E-UTRAN corresponds to NG-RAN 235 and theEPC corresponds to SGCN 240 in FIG. 2 . The methods and techniquesdescribed herein for obtaining a civic location for UE 105 may beapplicable to such other networks.

The gNBs 210 and ng-eNB 214 can communicate with an AMF 215, which, forpositioning functionality, communicates with an LMF 220. The AMF 215 maysupport mobility of the UE 105, including cell change and handover of UE105 from an access node (e.g., gNB 210, ng-eNB 214, or WLAN 216) of afirst RAT to an access node of a second RAT. The AMF 215 may alsoparticipate in supporting a signaling connection to the UE 105 andpossibly data and voice bearers for the UE 105. The LMF 220 may supportpositioning of the UE 105 using a CP location solution when UE 105accesses the NG-RAN 235 or WLAN 216 and may support position proceduresand methods, including UE assisted/UE based and/or network basedprocedures/methods, such as Assisted GNSS (A-GNSS), Observed TimeDifference Of Arrival (OTDOA) (which may be referred to in NR as TimeDifference Of Arrival (TDOA)), Real Time Kinematic (RTK), Precise PointPositioning (PPP), Differential GNSS (DGNSS), Enhance Cell ID (ECID),angle of arrival (AoA), angle of departure (AoD), WLAN positioning,round trip signal propagation delay (RTT), multi-cell RTT, and/or otherpositioning procedures and methods. The LMF 220 may also processlocation service requests for the UE 105, e.g., received from the AMF215 or from the GMLC 225. The LMF 220 may be connected to AMF 215 and/orto GMLC 225. In some embodiments, a network such as SGCN 240 mayadditionally or alternatively implement other types of location-supportmodules, such as an Evolved Serving Mobile Location Center (E-SMLC) or aSUPL Location Platform (SLP). It is noted that in some embodiments, atleast part of the positioning functionality (including determination ofa UE 105's location) may be performed at the UE 105 (e.g., by measuringdownlink PRS (DL-PRS) signals transmitted by wireless nodes such as gNBs210, ng-eNB 214 and/or WLAN 216, and/or using assistance data providedto the UE 105, e.g., by LMF 220).

The Gateway Mobile Location Center (GMLC) 225 may support a locationrequest for the UE 105 received from an external client 230 and mayforward such a location request to the AMF 215 for forwarding by the AMF215 to the LMF 220. A location response from the LMF 220 (e.g.,containing a location estimate for the UE 105) may be similarly returnedto the GMLC 225 either directly or via the AMF 215, and the GMLC 225 maythen return the location response (e.g., containing the locationestimate) to the external client 230.

A Network Exposure Function (NEF) 245 may be included in SGCN 240. TheNEF 245 may support secure exposure of capabilities and eventsconcerning SGCN 240 and UE 105 to the external client 230, which maythen be referred to as an Access Function (AF) and may enable secureprovision of information from external client 230 to SGCN 240. NEF 245may be connected to AMF 215 and/or to GMLC 225 for the purposes ofobtaining a location (e.g. a civic location) of UE 105 and providing thelocation to external client 230.

As further illustrated in FIG. 2 , the LMF 220 may communicate with thegNBs 210 and/or with the ng-eNB 214 using an NR Positioning Protocolannex (NRPPa) as defined in 3GPP Technical Specification (TS) 38.455.NRPPa messages may be transferred between a gNB 210 and the LMF 220,and/or between an ng-eNB 214 and the LMF 220, via the AMF 215. Asfurther illustrated in FIG. 2 , LMF 220 and UE 105 may communicate usingan LTE Positioning Protocol (LPP) as defined in 3GPP TS 37.355. Here,LPP messages may be transferred between the UE 105 and the LMF 220 viathe AMF 215 and a serving gNB 210-1 or serving ng-eNB 214 for UE 105.For example, LPP messages may be transferred between the LMF 220 and theAMF 215 using messages for service-based operations (e.g., based on theHypertext Transfer Protocol (HTTP)) and may be transferred between theAMF 215 and the UE 105 using a 5G NAS protocol. The LPP protocol may beused to support positioning of UE 105 using UE assisted and/or UE basedposition methods such as A-GNSS, RTK, TDOA, multi-cell RTT, AoD, and/orECID. The NRPPa protocol may be used to support positioning of UE 105using network based position methods such as ECID, AoA, uplink TDOA(UL-TDOA) and/or may be used by LMF 220 to obtain location relatedinformation from gNBs 210 and/or ng-eNB 214, such as parameters definingDL-PRS transmission from gNBs 210 and/or ng-eNB 214.

In the case of UE 105 access to WLAN 216, LMF 220 may use NRPPa and/orLPP to obtain a location of UE 105 in a similar manner to that justdescribed for UE 105 access to a gNB 210 or ng-eNB 214. Thus, NRPPamessages may be transferred between a WLAN 216 and the LMF 220, via theAMF 215 and N3IWF 250 to support network-based positioning of UE 105and/or transfer of other location information from WLAN 216 to LMF 220.Alternatively, NRPPa messages may be transferred between N3IWF 250 andthe LMF 220, via the AMF 215, to support network-based positioning of UE105 based on location related information and/or location measurementsknown to or accessible to N3IWF 250 and transferred from N3IWF 250 toLMF 220 using NRPPa. Similarly, LPP and/or LPP messages may betransferred between the UE 105 and the LMF 220 via the AMF 215, N3IWF250, and serving WLAN 216 for UE 105 to support UE assisted or UE basedpositioning of UE 105 by LMF 220.

In a 5G NR positioning system 200, positioning methods can becategorized as being “UE assisted” or “UE based.” This may depend onwhere the request for determining the position of the UE 105 originated.If, for example, the request originated at the UE (e.g., from anapplication, or “app,” executed by the UE), the positioning method maybe categorized as being UE based. If, on the other hand, the requestoriginates from an external client or AF 230, LMF 220, or other deviceor service within the 5G network, the positioning method may becategorized as being UE assisted (or “network-based”).

With a UE-assisted position method, UE 105 may obtain locationmeasurements and send the measurements to a location server (e.g., LMF220) for computation of a location estimate for UE 105. ForRAT-dependent position methods location measurements may include one ormore of a Received Signal Strength Indicator (RSSI), Round Trip signalpropagation Time (RTT), Reference Signal Received Power (RSRP),Reference Signal Received Quality (RSRQ), Reference Signal TimeDifference (RSTD), Time of Arrival (TOA), AoA, Receive Time-TransmissionTime Difference (Rx-Tx), Differential AoA (DAoA), AoD, or Timing Advance(TA) for gNBs 210, ng-eNB 214, and/or one or more access points for WLAN216. Additionally or alternatively, similar measurements may be made ofsidelink signals transmitted by other UEs, which may serve as anchorpoints for positioning of the UE 105 if the positions of the other UEsare known. The location measurements may also or instead includemeasurements for RAT-independent positioning methods such as GNSS (e.g.,GNSS pseudorange, GNSS code phase, and/or GNSS carrier phase for GNSSsatellites 110), WLAN, etc.

With a UE-based position method, UE 105 may obtain location measurements(e.g., which may be the same as or similar to location measurements fora UE assisted position method) and may further compute a location of UE105 (e.g., with the help of assistance data received from a locationserver such as LMF 220, an SLP, or broadcast by gNBs 210, ng-eNB 214, orWLAN 216).

With a network based position method, one or more base stations (e.g.,gNBs 210 and/or ng-eNB 214), one or more APs (e.g., in WLAN 216), orN3IWF 250 may obtain location measurements (e.g., measurements of RSSI,RTT, RSRP, RSRQ, AoA, or TOA) for signals transmitted by UE 105, and/ormay receive measurements obtained by UE 105 or by an AP in WLAN 216 inthe case of N3IWF 250, and may send the measurements to a locationserver (e.g., LMF 220) for computation of a location estimate for UE105.

Positioning of the UE 105 also may be categorized as UL, DL, or DL-ULbased, depending on the types of signals used for positioning. If, forexample, positioning is based solely on signals received at the UE 105(e.g., from a base station or other UE), the positioning may becategorized as DL based. On the other hand, if positioning is basedsolely on signals transmitted by the UE 105 (which may be received by abase station or other UE, for example), the positioning may becategorized as UL based. Positioning that is DL-UL based includespositioning, such as RTT-based positioning, that is based on signalsthat are both transmitted and received by the UE 105. Sidelink(SL)-assisted positioning comprises signals communicated between the UE105 and one or more other UEs. According to some embodiments, UL, DL, orDL-UL positioning as described herein may be capable of using SLsignaling as a complement or replacement of SL, DL, or DL-UL signaling.

Depending on the type of positioning (e.g., UL, DL, or DL-UL based) thetypes of reference signals used can vary. For DL-based positioning, forexample, these signals may comprise PRS (e.g., DL-PRS transmitted bybase stations or SL-PRS transmitted by other UEs), which can be used forTDOA, AoD, and RTT measurements. Other reference signals that can beused for positioning (UL, DL, or DL-UL) may include Sounding ReferenceSignal (SRS), Channel State Information Reference Signal (CSI-RS),synchronization signals (e.g., synchronization signal block (SSB)Synchronizations Signal (SS)), Physical Uplink Control Channel (PUCCH),Physical Uplink Shared Channel (PUSCH), Physical Sidelink Shared Channel(PSSCH), Demodulation Reference Signal (DMRS), etc. Moreover, referencesignals may be transmitted in a Tx beam and/or received in an Rx beam(e.g., using beamforming techniques), which may impact angularmeasurements, such as AoD and/or AoA.

FIG. 3 is a diagram illustrating a simplified environment 300 includingtwo TRPs 320-1 and 320-2 (which may correspond to base stations 120 ofFIG. 1 and/or gNBs 210 and/or ng-eNB 214 of FIG. 2 ) with antenna arraysthat can perform beamforming to produce directional beams fortransmitting and/or receiving RF signals. FIG. 3 also illustrates a UE105, which may also use beamforming for transmitting and/or receiving RFsignals. Such directional beams are used in 5G NR wireless communicationnetworks. Each of the directional beam may have a beam width centered ina different direction, enabling different beams of a TRP 320 tocorrespond with different areas within a coverage area for the TRP 320.

Different modes of operation may enable TRPs 320-1 and 320-2 to use alarger or smaller number of beams. For example, in a first mode ofoperation, a TRP 320 may use 16 beams, in which case each beam may havea relatively wide beam width. In a second mode of operation, a TRP 320may use 64 beams, in which case each beam may have a relatively narrowbeam width. Depending on the capabilities of a TRP 320, the TRP may useany number of beams the TRP 320 may be capable of forming. The modes ofoperation and/or number of beams may be defined in relevant wirelessstandards and may correspond to different directions in either or bothazimuth and elevation (e.g., horizontal and vertical directions).Different modes of operation may be used to transmit and/or receivedifferent signal types. Additionally or alternatively, the UE 105 may becapable of using different numbers of beams, which may also correspondto different modes of operation, signal types, etc.

In some situations, a TRP 320 may use beam sweeping. Beam sweeping is aprocess in which the TRP 320 may send an RF signal in differentdirections using different respective beams, often in succession,effectively “sweeping” across a coverage area. For example, a TRP 320may sweep across 120 or 360 degrees in an azimuth direction, for eachbeam sweep, which may be periodically repeated. Each direction beam caninclude an RF reference signal (e.g., a PRS resource), where basestation 320-1 produces a set of RF reference signals that includes Txbeams 305-a, 305-b, 305-c, 305-d, 305-e, 305-f, 305-g, and 305-h, andthe base station 320-2 produces a set of RF reference signals thatincludes Tx beams 309-a, 309-b, 309-c, 309-d, 309-e, 309-f, 309-g, and309-h. As noted, because UE 320 may also include an antenna array, itcan receive RF reference signals transmitted by base stations 320-1 and320-2 using beamforming to form respective receive beams (Rx beams)311-a and 311-b. Beamforming in this manner (by base stations 320 andoptionally by UEs 105) can be used to make communications moreefficient. They can also be used for other purposes, including takingmeasurements for position determination (e.g., AoD and AoAmeasurements).

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an example of a frame structure for NR andassociated terminology, which can serve as the basis for physical layercommunication between the UE 105 and base stations/TRPs. Thetransmission timeline for each of the downlink and uplink may bepartitioned into units of radio frames. Each radio frame may have apredetermined duration (e.g., 10 ms) and may be partitioned into 10subframes, each of 1 ms, with indices of 0 through 9. Each subframe mayinclude a variable number of slots depending on the subcarrier spacing.Each slot may include a variable number of symbol periods (e.g., 7 or 14symbols) depending on the subcarrier spacing. The symbol periods in eachslot may be assigned indices. A mini slot may comprise a sub slotstructure (e.g., 2, 3, or 4 symbols). Additionally shown in FIG. 4 isthe complete Orthogonal Frequency-Division Multiplexing (OFDM) of asubframe, showing how a subframe can be divided across both time andfrequency into a plurality of Resource Blocks (RBs). A single RB cancomprise a grid of Resource Elements (REs) spanning 14 symbols and 12subcarriers.

Each symbol in a slot may indicate a link direction (e.g., downlink(DL), uplink (UL), or flexible) or data transmission and the linkdirection for each subframe may be dynamically switched. The linkdirections may be based on the slot format. Each slot may include DL/ULdata as well as DL/UL control information. In NR, a synchronizationsignal (SS) block is transmitted. The SS block includes a primary SS(PSS), a secondary SS (SSS), and a two symbol Physical Broadcast Channel(PBCH). The SS block can be transmitted in a fixed slot location, suchas the symbols 0-3 as shown in FIG. 4 . The PSS and SSS may be used byUEs for cell search and acquisition. The PSS may provide half-frametiming, the SS may provide the cyclic prefix (CP) length and frametiming. The PSS and SSS may provide the cell identity. The PBCH carriessome basic system information, such as downlink system bandwidth, timinginformation within radio frame, SS burst set periodicity, system framenumber, etc.

FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an example of a radio frame sequence 500with PRS positioning occasions. A “PRS instance” or “PRS occasion” isone instance of a periodically repeated time window (e.g., a group ofone or more consecutive slots) where PRS are expected to be transmitted.A PRS occasion may also be referred to as a “PRS positioning occasion,”a “PRS positioning instance, a “positioning occasion,” “a positioninginstance,” or simply an “occasion” or “instance.” Subframe sequence 500may be applicable to broadcast of PRS signals (DL-PRS signals) from basestations 120 in positioning system 100. The radio frame sequence 500 maybe used in 5G NR (e.g., in 5G NR positioning system 200) and/or in LTE.Similar to FIG. 4 , time is represented horizontally (e.g., on an Xaxis) in FIG. 5 , with time increasing from left to right. Frequency isrepresented vertically (e.g., on a Y axis) with frequency increasing (ordecreasing) from bottom to top.

FIG. 5 shows how PRS positioning occasions 510-1, 510-2, and 510-3(collectively and generically referred to herein as positioningoccasions 510) are determined by a System Frame Number (SFN), acell-specific subframe offset (APRs) 515, a length or span of L_(PRS)subframes, and the PRS Periodicity (T_(PRS)) 520. The cell-specific PRSsubframe configuration may be defined by a “PRS Configuration Index,”I_(PRS), included in assistance data (e.g., TDOA assistance data), whichmay be defined by governing 3GPP standards. The cell-specific subframeoffset (Δ_(PRS)) 515 may be defined in terms of the number of subframestransmitted starting from System Frame Number (SFN) 0 to the start ofthe first (subsequent) PRS positioning occasion.

A PRS may be transmitted by wireless nodes (e.g., base stations 120)after appropriate configuration (e.g., by an Operations and Maintenance(O&M) server). A PRS may be transmitted in special positioning subframesor slots that are grouped into positioning occasions 510. For example, aPRS positioning occasion 510-1 can comprise a number N_(PRS) ofconsecutive positioning subframes where the number N_(PRS) may bebetween 1 and 160 (e.g., may include the values 1, 2, 4 and 6 as well asother values). PRS occasions 510 may be grouped into one or more PRSoccasion groups. As noted, PRS positioning occasions 510 may occurperiodically at intervals, denoted by a number T_(PRS), of millisecond(or subframe) intervals where T_(PRS) may equal 5, 10, 20, 40, 80, 160,320, 640, or 1280 (or any other appropriate value). In some embodiments,T_(PRS) may be measured in terms of the number of subframes between thestart of consecutive positioning occasions.

In some embodiments, when a UE 105 receives a PRS configuration indexI_(PRS) in the assistance data for a particular cell (e.g., basestation), the UE 105 may determine the PRS periodicity T_(PRS) 520 andcell-specific subframe offset (APRs) 515 using stored indexed data. TheUE 105 may then determine the radio frame, subframe, and slot when a PRSis scheduled in the cell. The assistance data may be determined by, forexample, a location server (e.g., location server 160 in FIG. 1 and/orLMF 220 in FIG. 2 ), and includes assistance data for a reference cell,and a number of neighbor cells supported by various wireless nodes.

Typically, PRS occasions from all cells in a network that use the samefrequency are aligned in time and may have a fixed known time offset(e.g., cell-specific subframe offset (Δ_(PRS)) 515) relative to othercells in the network that use a different frequency. In SFN-synchronousnetworks all wireless nodes (e.g., base stations 120) may be aligned onboth frame boundary and system frame number. Therefore, inSFN-synchronous networks all cells supported by the various wirelessnodes may use the same PRS configuration index for any particularfrequency of PRS transmission. On the other hand, in SFN-asynchronousnetworks, the various wireless nodes may be aligned on a frame boundary,but not system frame number. Thus, in SFN-asynchronous networks the PRSconfiguration index for each cell may be configured separately by thenetwork so that PRS occasions align in time. A UE 105 may determine thetiming of the PRS occasions 510 of the reference and neighbor cells forTDOA positioning, if the UE 105 can obtain the cell timing (e.g., SFN orFrame Number) of at least one of the cells, e.g., the reference cell ora serving cell. The timing of the other cells may then be derived by theUE 105 based, for example, on the assumption that PRS occasions fromdifferent cells overlap.

With reference to the frame structure in FIG. 4 , a collection of REsthat are used for transmission of PRS is referred to as a “PRSresource.” The collection of resource elements can span multiple RBs inthe frequency domain and one or more consecutive symbols within a slotin the time domain, inside which pseudo-random Quadrature Phase ShiftKeying (QPSK) sequences are transmitted from an antenna port of a TRP.In a given OFDM symbol in the time domain, a PRS resource occupiesconsecutive RBs in the frequency domain. The transmission of a PRSresource within a given RB has a particular combination, or “comb,”size. (Comb size also may be referred to as the “comb density.”) A combsize “N” represents the subcarrier spacing (or frequency/tone spacing)within each symbol of a PRS resource configuration, where theconfiguration uses every Nth subcarrier of certain symbols of an RB. Forexample, for comb-4, for each of the four symbols of the PRS resourceconfiguration, REs corresponding to every fourth subcarrier (e.g.,subcarriers 0, 4, 8) are used to transmit PRS of the PRS resource. Combsizes of comb-2, comb-4, comb-6, and comb-12, for example, may be usedin PRS. Examples of different comb sizes using with different numbers ofsymbols are provided in FIG. 6 .

A “PRS resource set” comprises a group of PRS resources used for thetransmission of PRS signals, where each PRS resource has a PRS resourceID. In addition, the PRS resources in a PRS resource set are associatedwith the same TRP. A PRS resource set is identified by a PRS resourceset ID and is associated with a particular TRP (identified by a cellID). A “PRS resource repetition” is a repetition of a PRS resourceduring a PRS occasion/instance. The number of repetitions of a PRSresource may be defined by a “repetition factor” for the PRS resource.In addition, the PRS resources in a PRS resource set may have the sameperiodicity, a common muting pattern configuration, and the samerepetition factor across slots. The periodicity may have a lengthselected from 2^(m)·{4, 5, 8, 10, 16, 20, 32, 40, 64, 80, 160, 320, 640,1280, 2560, 5120, 10240} slots, with μ=0, 1, 2, 3. The repetition factormay have a length selected from {1, 2, 4, 6, 8, 16, 32} slots.

A PRS resource ID in a PRS resource set may be associated with a singlebeam (and/or beam ID) transmitted from a single TRP (where a TRP maytransmit one or more beams). That is, each PRS resource of a PRSresource set may be transmitted on a different beam, and as such, a PRSresource (or simply “resource”) can also be referred to as a “beam.”Note that this does not have any implications on whether the TRPs andthe beams on which PRS are transmitted are known to the UE.

In the 5G NR positioning system 200 illustrated in FIG. 2 , a TRP (gNB210, ng-eNB 214, and/or WLAN 216) may transmit frames, or other physicallayer signaling sequences, supporting PRS signals (i.e. a DL-PRS)according to frame configurations as previously described, which may bemeasured and used for position determination of the UE 105. As noted,other types of wireless network nodes, including other UEs, may also beconfigured to transmit PRS signals configured in a manner similar to (orthe same as) that described above. Because transmission of a PRS by awireless network node may be directed to all UEs within radio range, thewireless network node may be considered to transmit (or broadcast) aPRS.

FIG. 7 is a diagram of a hierarchical structure of how PRS resources andPRS resource sets may be used by different TRPs of a given positionfrequency layer (PFL), as defined in 5G NR. With respect to a network(Uu) interface, a UE 105 can be configured with one or more DL-PRSresource sets from each of one or more TRPs. Each DL-PRS resource setincludes K≥1 DL-PRS resource(s), which, as previously noted, maycorrespond to a Tx beam of the TRP. A DL-PRS PFL is defined as acollection of DL-PRS resource sets which have the same subcarrierspacing (SCS) and cyclic prefix (CP) type, the same value of DL-PRSbandwidth, the same center frequency, and the same value of comb size.In current iterations of the NR standard, a UE 105 can be configuredwith up to four DL-PRS PFLs.

NR has multiple frequency bands across different frequency ranges (e.g.,Frequency Range 1 (FR1) and Frequency Range 2 (FR2)). PFLs may be on thesame band or different bands. In some embodiments, they may even be indifferent frequency ranges. Additionally, as illustrated in FIG. 7 ,multiple TRPs (e.g., TRP1 and TR2) may be on the same PFL. Currentlyunder NR, each TRP can have up to two PRS resource sets, each with oneor more PRS resources, as previously described.

Different PRS resource sets may have different periodicity. For example,one PRS resource set may be used for tracking, and another PRS resourcethat could be used for acquisition. Additionally or alternatively, onePRS resource set may have more beams, and another may have fewer beams.Accordingly, different resource sets may be used by a wireless networkfor different purposes.

FIG. 8 is a time diagram illustrating two different options for slotusage of a resource set, according to an embodiment. Because eachexample repeats each resource four times, the resource set is said tohave a repetition factor of four. Successive sweeping 810 comprisesrepeating a single resource (resource 1, resource 2, etc.) four timesbefore proceeding to a subsequent resource. In this example, if eachresource corresponds to a different beam of a TRP, the TRP repeats abeam for four slots in a row before moving to the next beam. Becauseeach resource is repeated in successive slots (e.g., resource 1 isrepeated in slots n, n+1, n+2, etc.), the time gap is said to be oneslot. On the other hand, for interleaved sweeping 820, the TRP may movefrom one beam to the next for each subsequent slot, rotating throughfour beams for four rounds. Because each resource is repeated every fourslots (e.g., resource 1 is repeated in slots n, n+4, n+8, etc.), thetime gap is said to be one slot. Of course, embodiments are not solimited. Resource sets may comprise a different amount of resourcesand/or repetitions. Moreover, as noted above, each TRP may have multipleresource sets, multiple TRPs may utilize a single PFL, and a UE may becapable of taking measurements of PRS resources transmitted via multiplePFLs.

Thus, to obtain PRS measurements from PRS signals sent by TRPs and/orUEs in a network, the UE can be configured to observe PRS resourcesduring a period of time called a measurement period. That is, todetermine a position of the UE using PRS signals, a UE and a locationserver (e.g., LMF 220 of FIG. 2 ) may initiate a location session inwhich the UE is given a period of time to observe PRS resources andreport resulting PRS measurements to the location server. As describedin more detail below, this measurement period may be determined based onthe capabilities of the UE.

To measure and process PRS resources during the measurement period, a UEcan be configured to execute a measurement gap (MG) pattern. The UE canrequest a measurement gap from a serving TRP, for example, which canthen provide the UE with the configuration (e.g., via Radio ResourceControl (RRC) protocol).

As noted, a UE may be configured to execute an MG pattern to measure andprocess PRS resources of a PRS resource set outside an active DLbandwidth part (BWP) via which the UE sends and receives data with aserving TRP. To allow the network to configure the UE in a manner thataccommodates the processing and buffering capabilities of the UE (whichmay be dynamic), the UE may provide to the network (e.g., a TRP orlocation server) capabilities related to PRS processing. The variousparameters of the MG pattern can be configured in view of thesecapabilities.

Certain conditions may exist, however, where measurement gap occasionsmay not be needed. For example, a UE may be capable of measuringreference signals (RS) (e.g., PRS and/or other signals that may be usedfor positioning) outside an MG, within a reference signal processingwindow (PW). This can occur, for example, when the reference signal isinside the active DL BWP and has the same numerology as the active DLBWP. To perform the RS measurements and processing inside a PW, a UE mayassign a higher priority for the RS operation than other DL/UL referencesignal/data.

Performing measurements without using an MG can provide one or moreadvantages over using an MG. For example, in some instances, because ameasured RS may be located within an active BWP, there may be no need totune RF circuitry (e.g., an RF chain of a transceiver) to a separateBWP, which can save time and increase efficiency. Further, someconfigurations may allow a UE to continue to receive non-RSdata/signaling during the PW, which again can save time and increaseefficiency. Additionally or alternatively, a PW may allow a UE totransmit a UL signal, which may not be allowed during a traditional MG.This can be particularly helpful when the positioning of the UE is basedon measurements of UL signals (e.g., UL-AoA, RTT, and/or othermeasurements utilizing UL signals from the UE). The embodimentsdisclosed herein utilize a PW, as discussed in more detail hereafter,and may therefore include these and other benefits.

A UE may have different abilities for performing measurements withoutusing an MG. According to a first capability, for example, a UE may becapable of prioritizing an RS (e.g., DL PRS) over other DLsignals/channels in all symbols inside the PW. This may affect DLsignals/channels from all DL component carriers (CCs), or only the DLsignals/channels from a certain band/CC. Additionally or alternatively,a UE may be capable of prioritizing an RS over other DL signals/channelsonly in the symbols inside the window used to receive the RS. In eithercase, the UE may be capable of providing capability information (e.g.,indicating a capability of performing measurements without an MG) to aserving base station (e.g., serving gNB) and/or location server (e.g.,LMF). Furthermore, a UE may determine the priority of an RS based on oneor more of an indication/configuration from a serving base station, arules-based determination (e.g., as dictated from rules of a governingspecification), an indication/configuration received from a locationserver, or the like. Depending on desired functionality, a UE may becapable of obtaining RS measurements both inside and outside an MG for asingle position determination.

Embodiments herein are directed toward PW configuration and signaling,enabling coordination of the PW between a serving base station and a UE.Because the UE may measure RS transmitted by one or more other UEs(e.g., in addition or as an alternative to RS transmitted by one or morebase stations) the UE taking the measurements (and whose position willbe determined) may be referred to herein as the target UE. The one ormore other UEs (that transmit signals measured by the target UE), ifused, may be referred to herein as anchor UEs. Techniques forconfiguring and signaling a PW to be used by a target UE for measuringat least one RS may include coordination between the serving basestation and UE by configuration or by implicit derivation.

According to a first technique, for example, a network node (e.g., thetarget UE or location server) may send request to the serving basestation of the target UE for configuring a PW. The request may be sentvia NRPPa if the network node comprises a location server. If thenetwork node comprises the target UE, the target UE may provide therequest via Uplink Control Information (UCI) and/or Medium AccessControl-Control Element (MAC-CE).

FIGS. 9 and 10 are flow diagrams illustrating examples of how the firsttechnique (PW request from a network node) may be implemented, accordingto some embodiments. These processes may be part of a positioningsession (e.g., LPP positioning session) between the UE 105 and LMF 220,although embodiments herein are not so limited. Communications betweenthe UE 105 and LMF 220 may be relayed by (and transparent to) variousdevices, including the serving gNB 210, as illustrated in FIG. 2 .Furthermore, a positioning session may include additional or alternativesteps that are not illustrated in FIG. 9 or 10 .

In FIG. 9 , the process 900 includes the initiation of a positioningsession at block 910. This may include a request for the position of theUE 105 (e.g., initiating a UE-based or UE-assisted positioning session)and a request of capabilities by the LMF 220. At arrow 920, the UE 105provides capabilities to the LMF 220, including PW-related capabilitiesas described herein. More specifically, this may include an indicationthe UE 105 is capable of receiving various PW configurations. At arrow930, the LMF 220 provides an RS configuration (e.g., DL-PRSconfiguration) to the UE 105. Because the RS configuration is indicativeof when RS may be measured, the UE 105 can determine whether a PW may beused for measuring RS and, if so, request a corresponding PWconfiguration from the serving gNB 210, as indicated at arrow 940.According to some embodiments, the serving gNB 210 may provideconfirmation or acknowledgment of the PW configuration request, asindicated at block 945. Depending on desired functionality, the RSconfiguration may be included in assistance data provided by the LMF220. For its part, the serving gNB 210 provides the PW configuration, atarrow 950, and the UE 105 performs one or more corresponding RSmeasurements using the PW, as indicated at block 960. The measurementsfurther may be in response to a location request (not shown) receivedfrom the LMF 220.

FIG. 10 shows an alternative embodiment in which the process 1000 hasoperations 1010-1060 similar to corresponding operations of process 900of FIG. 9 . However, rather than the UE 105 sending a PW configurationrequest (arrow 940 of FIG. 9 ), the LMF 220 sends the PW configurationrequest to the serving gNB 210 at arrow 1040. This process 1000 may beperformed (e.g., rather than the process 900 of FIG. 9 ) to help reducebandwidth usage between the UE 105 and a serving gNB 210.

The processes 900 and 1000 of FIGS. 9 and 10 provide a dynamic approachfor PW requests and configuration. That is, a PW may be requested andconfigured on an as-needed basis. Additionally or alternatively, a PW abe configured by the serving gNB 210 providing a list of preconfiguredPW configurations to the UE, in which case the UE may activate,deactivate, and/or switch between PW configurations based on the list ofpreconfigured PW configurations using UCI/MAC-CE/RRC in real time. Morespecifically, the list of preconfigured PW configurations may comprise alist of PW configurations preconfigured with different parameter values,and the UE may select the configuration in the list to use for a givenPW. (Parameters for PW configurations are described in more detailhereafter.) In such instances, the UE 105 or LMF 220 may send a requestto the serving gNB 210 to reconfigure the list of preconfigured PWconfigurations based on a given RS configuration (e.g., in a mannersimilar to requests 940 and 1040 of FIGS. 9 and 10 ). The list may beindexed to enable the UE to communicate the selection of the PWconfiguration using an index indication.

According to a second technique for configuring and signaling a PW to beused by a target UE for measuring at least one RS, rather than sending arequest to the serving gNB 210 (e.g., by the UE 105 or LMF 220), a PWmay be implicitly derived based on RS configuration. That is, the LMF220 or UE 105 may send an RS configuration to the serving gNB 210, andthe UE 105 and serving gNB 210 can each separately derive the PWconfiguration according to applicable rules (e.g., as defined in agoverning specification). This can reduce latency to configure a PW forRS measurements (e.g., in a process similar to process 900 or process1000) because the serving gNB 210 may omit providing the UE 105 with aPW configuration.

Depending on desired functionality, a PW configuration may include acombination of values for one or more different parameters. Startingtime, for example, may comprise one such parameter, which may beindicated by a number of symbols, slots, subframes, or frames afterreception of the PW request. Duration of the PW is another parameter,which also may be indicated by a number of symbols, slots, subframes, orframes, time. In cases where a PW comprises multiple PW occasions (e.g.,similar to PRS occasions as described with respect to FIG. 5 ), a PWconfiguration may comprise an indication of periodicity, which also maybe indicated by a number of symbols, slots, subframes, or frames.Additionally or alternatively, the PW configuration may include anindication of a BWP for the RS measurement(s) to be taken during the PW.According to some embodiments, the PW configuration may also include anindication of RS data, such as a priority of an RS in the PW.

The PW configuration may vary to accommodate the actions to be performedduring the PW. Additional information regarding these actions andcorresponding PW components are provided with respect to FIG. 11 .

FIG. 11 is a diagram illustrating various components of a PW 1110,according to an embodiment. As illustrated, the PW 1110 may comprise aninitial RF chain tuning time 1120, a first RS reception time 1130,non-RS signaling time 1140, a second RS reception time 1150, andoptional UL-RS transmission time 1160 RS processing time 1170, and afinal RF chain tuning time 1180. It can be noted, however, that the PW1110 of FIG. 11 is provided as a non-limiting example. The presence andduration of different components may vary and may be accommodated bydifferent PW configurations. In particular, the initial RF chain tuningtime 1120 and final RF chain tuning time 1180 may not be present whereRF chain tuning is not needed and may be based on a UE's capability.Furthermore, although two RS reception times are illustrated in FIG. 11(first RS reception time 1130 and second RS reception time 1150), a PWmay have fewer or more RS reception times, as needed. Put generally, aPW may comprise one or more times designated for RS reception. Each RSreception time and may be based on specific features of the RS (e.g., RSconfiguration, comb size, number of symbols, repetition, muting pattern,etc.). UL-RS transmission time 1160 may comprise a designated time forthe UE to transmit a UL-RS (e.g., UL-PRS, SRS, etc.). According to someembodiments, the UL-RS transmission may be transmitted at any timeduring the PW 1110 although, as shown in FIG. 11 , this time may bedesignated within a PW 1110. Because the UL-RS may not be needed in someinstances, it therefore may be omitted in certain PW configurations.

To be clear, a PW may include different combinations of components asneeded. RF chain tuning times (e.g., RF chain tuning times 1120 and1180) are optional and may be included at the beginning and end of a PWif BWP switching is required for the PW, which may be based on thecapability of the UE or PRS measurement requirement. As noted, one ormore RS reception times (e.g., RS reception times 1130 and 1150) may beincluded if the UE is to measure one or more RS instances. (According tosome embodiments, at least one RS reception time must be included if thePW does not include a UL-RS transmission.) Similar to the RS receptiontimes, and RS processing time (e.g., RS processing time 1170) may beincluded if the UE is to measure one or more RS instances. A UL-RStransmission time (e.g., UL-RS transmission time 1160) optionally may beincluded, however, as noted, some embodiments may require a UL-RStransmission time if no RS reception times are included in the PW.Finally, non-RS signaling time (e.g., non-RS signaling time 1140)optionally may be included, depending on desired functionality.

The RS processing time 1170 may be based on UE's capability. In LPP,this capability may be reported by the UE to the LMF, for example, usingparameters durationOfPRS-Processing and/ormaxNumOfDL-PRS-ResProcessedPerSlot. It can be noted, however, that someof these parameters may assume the maximum PRS bandwidth, which may notreflect the real time bandwidth of an RS measurement during the PW. Thereal-time bandwidth may refer to the bandwidth of current active BWP orthe overlap in bandwidth between the active BWP and the measured RS. ThegNB, UE, and/or LMF may either use this parameter directly as the worstcase bound or scale the processing time based on the ratio (real-timebandwidth/maximum RS bandwidth).

Non-RS signaling time 1140 may comprise a time period within the PW 1110during which UL and/or DL data that may be unrelated to an RS may becommunicated. Although illustrated between a first RS reception time1130 and a second RS reception time 1150, a non-RS signaling time 1140may be located elsewhere within a PW 1110, such as between the second RSreception time 1150 and the UL-RS transmission time 1160, after theUL-RS transmission time 1160, and/or before the first RS reception time1130, for example. This can help reduce the impact the PW 1110 has onnon-RS communication. As with other features of the PW 1110, thelocation and duration of the non-RS signaling time 1140 may bedetermined in terms of symbols, slots, subframes, frames, or anycombination thereof. At the symbol level, for example, non-RS signalingtime may comprise unused symbols in a slot that also comprises symbolsused by an RS instance. For example, (as shown in FIG. 6 ) where an RSinstance comprises a comb-4 structure that occupies four symbols of a14-symbol slot, the remaining 10 symbols of the slot may be designatedas non-RS signaling time 1140.

Depending on desired functionality, the PW duration (e.g., as defined ina PW configuration) can be defined as N consecutive symbols, slots,subframes, frames, or any combination of these. In a first option, theduration of each PW instance may be defined at symbol level or a slotlevel. This can be done at a per-RS resources level, where each PWduration may span on the symbols of a slot of an RS resource and mayfurther include RF tuning time and/or processing time, if needed. (Withrespect to FIG. 8 , for example, one PW would be defined for eachresource.) This method may create many PW fragments. Alternatively, thisPW can capture all RS resources in an RS resource set, where each PWduration may span consecutive symbols of consecutive slots for all RSresources of a single RS resource set and may further include RF tuningtime and/or processing time, if needed. (With respect to FIG. 8 , forexample, a single PW would be defined for all resources.) In a secondoption, a PW may be defined with a PW duration and a merge condition,enabling the PW to be merged to another PW in certain circumstances.

Thus, a device (e.g., the target UE or serving base station) maydetermine that the PW configuration by applying rules for determining PWbased on a RS configuration. This may result in PW fragments that may bemerged during a merging process. (As referred to herein, a “PW fragment”may refer to a PW prior to the merger process.) The handling ofoverlapping, contiguous, and/or nearby but non-contiguous PW fragmentscan be covered by applicable rules for merging PWs. A merge conditionmay comprise a condition under which different PWs may be merged.

FIG. 12 illustrates a basic example of the merger of two PW fragments.Here, PW fragment 1 is followed by PW fragment 2, each having arespective initial RF chain tuning time 1220, RS reception time 1230, RSprocessing time 1240, and final RF chain tuning time 1250. (To avoidclutter, these components are labeled in PW fragment 1 only.) AlthoughPW fragments do not overlap, PW fragment 1 and PW fragment 2 are closeenough that a merge condition may exist wherein they may be merged asillustrated to create a resulting PW 1260. Such mergers of two PWfragments (or, more broadly, to PWs) may be made by canceling one ofthem and assigning overlapping time to the other. In the example in FIG.1 , for example, the second PW fragment be canceled, and time between RSreception times of each PW fragment may be designated as non-RSsignaling time 1270 of the resulting PW 1260. Because the resulting PW1260 may have only a single processing time 1280 and a single set of RFchain tuning times 1290, this can result in gains in efficiency overall.

Different types of mergers may be made depending on the type ofconditions that exist. Some types of mergers discussed herein areillustrated in FIGS. 13A-15B. It can be noted that, although the exampleis illustrated in 13A-15B include PWs having tuning periods, some PWsmay not include tuning periods, as previously noted. Nonetheless, PWswithout tuning periods may be merged in a similar manner.

FIG. 13A illustrates a first type of merger in which a first PWfragment, PW1, and a second PW fragment, PW2, are merged to form acombined PW, PW3. (This convention will be used in subsequent figures aswell.) In this example, each PW begins and ends with a tuning period1310 (only two of which are labeled, to avoid clutter). Each tuningperiod may correspond to an RF chain tuning time 1120 or 1180, as shownin FIG. 11 and previously described. In this example, RS measurements orRS bandwidth taken in PW1 and PW2 utilize the same bandwidth, and thusthe UE does not need to re-tune its RF chain between PW1 and PW2. Assuch, the merged PW3 combines PW1 and PW2, to allow the UE to measure RSwithout retuning. This type of merger can occur between any number ofadjacent PWs (e.g., two or more). Moreover, because the length of theresulting PW3 may be equal to the combined lengths of PW1 and PW2, itmay allow for more time for RS measurements (or other operations such asnon-RS data, UL transmissions, etc.) because no re-tuning is needed.

FIG. 13B illustrates a second type of merger similar to the mergerillustrated in 13A. Here, however, re-tuning is needed between PW1 andPW2. As such, the resulting PW3 may include a tuning period 1320 thatallows for this. The location of the tuning. 1320 within PW3 can allowfor one or more measurements for different frequency allocations(including BWP, CC, frequency layer, PFL, RS). Again, because the lengthof the resulting PW3 may be equal to the combined lengths of PW1 andPW2, it may allow for more time for RS measurements (or other operationssuch as non-RS data, UL transmissions, etc.) because only one re-tuningis needed.

FIG. 13C illustrates a third type of merger comprising an extension ofthe type of merger illustrated in FIG. 13A, applied to an instance inwhich PW1 and PW2 are not adjacent, but instead are separated by time τ.In this example, a merger condition exists when τ is less than or equalto a time threshold, δ, for merging PWs. PW3 can absorb time differenceτ. An thus, the length of PW3 may be equal to the combined lengths ofPW1 and PW2, plus τ.

FIG. 13D illustrates a fourth type of merger comprising an extension ofthe type of merger illustrated in FIG. 13B, applied in a manner similarto the example of FIG. 13C. Specifically, PW1 and PW2 are not adjacent,but instead are separated by time τ. The resulting PW3 includes a tuningperiod that can allow for re-tuning, if needed, during the PW. Similarto the example of FIG. 13B, the tuning period may be located within PW3to allow one or more measurements for different frequency allocations.Again, the length of PW3 may be equal to the combined lengths of PW1 andPW2, plus τ.

FIG. 14 illustrates merger of a first PW fragment, PW1, and a second PWfragment, PW2, that overlap in time by time period equaling τ. In thisexample, a merger condition exists when τ is less than or equal to atime threshold, δ, for merging PWs. (It can be noted that the timethreshold used for merging overlapping PWs may be different than thetime threshold used for merging separate PWs as illustrated in FIGS. 13Cand 13D.) In FIG. 14 , the length of PW1 and the length of PW2 arerespectively illustrated as PWL1 and PWL2. The merger may be performedin a manner such that the resulting PW3 has a length equal toPWL1+PWL2−τ. According to some embodiments, if retuning is needed, thetuning period can be located within PW3 in one of two ways, asillustrated. That is, the tuning period be located after the full PWL1,or before the full PWL2. This can be determined based on any of avariety of factors, including a start time of the PW, a length of thePW, a priority assigned to the PW (or to the RS being measured duringthe PW), or the like. Additionally or alternatively, the tuning period(i) may be omitted (e.g., if not needed) or (ii) may be located anywherewithin PW3 to accommodate RS measurements as needed, in a manner similarto the examples shown in FIGS. 13A and 13B, respectively.

FIG. 15A is an illustration, similar to FIG. 14 . Here, however, PW1 andPW2 overlap in time by a time period τ where τ is greater than the timethreshold, δ, for merging PWs. In this case, the resulting PW maycomprise PW1 or PW2, rather than a merger of PW1 and PW2. In otherwords, PW1 or PW2 may simply be canceled. The decision of which PW tocancel may be based on factors similar to those discussed with regard toFIG. 14 (start time, length, priority, etc.).

FIG. 15B is an illustration, similar to FIG. 15A, showing an instance inwhich PW1 or PW2 may be canceled. That is, as an alternative to mergingPW1 and PW2 in the case where PW1 and PW2 are separated by a time periodτ where τ is less than or equal to a time threshold, δ (e.g., as shownin FIGS. 13C and 13D), the target UE (in coordination with the network)may implement either PW1 or PW2 (effectively canceling the PW notimplemented). Again, the decision of which PW fragment to cancel may bebased on factors similar to those discussed with regard to FIGS. 14 and15A (start time, length, priority, etc.), in addition to the values of τand δ. According to some embodiments, whether tuning of RF circuitry ofthe UE is necessary between PW1 and PW2 may be a factor. That is, iftuning is needed, then PW1 or PW2 may be canceled (e.g., based on one ormore of the factors previously described). Alternatively, if no tuningis needed, then PW1 and PW2 may be merged (e.g., in the manner shown inFIG. 13C or 13D).

In the examples of merging PW fragments shown in FIGS. 13A-15B,threshold values (e.g., the value of δ as a threshold of time between PWfragments and/or as a threshold of overlap between PWs) may bedetermined in different ways, depending on desired functionality.According to some embodiments, the LMF or serving gNB may definethreshold values (e.g., in terms of a number of symbols, slots,subframes, and/or frames) of the non-PRS time. According to someembodiments, threshold values may be set by a governing specification.

Depending on desired functionality, the value of time difference τbetween PWs (and time threshold δ) may be defined in different ways. Thefollowing examples are illustrated with respect to PW fragments PW1 andPW2 as shown in FIG. 16 .

According to a first example, a first value, τ1, may be defined as adifference between end of RS reception time 1630-1 (or UL-RStransmission time, if included) in PW1 to the beginning of the RSreception time 1630-2 (or UL-RS transmission time) in PW2.

According to a third example, a third value, τ3, may be defined as adifference between the end of RS processing time 1640-1 (or RF chaintuning time 1650-1) in PW1 to the beginning of the RS reception time1630-2 (or UL-RS transmission time) in PW2.

According to a fourth example, a fourth value, τ4, may be defined as adifference between the end of RS reception time 1630-1 (or UL-RStransmission time, if included) in PW1 to the beginning of the RF chaintuning time 1620-2 in PW2.

Finally, according to a fifth example, a fifth value, τ5, may be definedas a difference between the end of RS processing time 1640-1 (or RFchain tuning time 1650-1) in PW1 and the beginning of the RF chaintuning time 1620-2 in PW2. According to a variation of this example, τ5may be calculated as the difference between the end of RS processingtime 1640-1 or RF chain tuning time 1650-1 in PW1 (whichever is later)and the beginning of the RF chain tuning time 1620-2 or RS receptiontime 1630-2 (whichever is earlier) in PW2.

It can be noted that these are nonlimiting examples of how values τ maybe determined. According to other embodiments, the value of τ may bedetermined using some other combination of beginning and/or ending timesof various components of PW1 and PW2. Furthermore, it can be noted thatthe boundary of each PW fragment may be further shifted by a small deltacaused by expected RSTD (e.g., based on different transmittal sourcesfor different RS resources). As such, according to some embodiments, theshifted boundary, which may be rounded to the latest or earliest symbolor slot, can be used for the determination of a value for τ.

According to some embodiments, merging rules can be used to merge two ormore PWs until a stopping rule is met. Similar to merging conditions,different stopping rules may be met in different circumstances. Forexample, according to some embodiments, a stopping rule may be met if atime gap (e.g., a value for τ as provided in FIG. 13C or 13D) is largerthan a threshold value. It can be noted that RS signal muting (e.g., PRSmuting), which may be included as part of an RS configuration, maysatisfy a stopping rule by creating a time gap larger than a thresholdvalue. An example of this is provided in FIG. 17 .

FIG. 17 is a diagram of slot usage of a resource set, similar to FIG. 8, illustrating how PWs may be determined in muted and non-mutedscenarios. In the non-muted example 1710, a single PW is used to measureall repetitions of all resources, where an initial RF chain tuning time1720 is followed by an RS reception time 1730 that encompasses allrepetitions of all resources. The RS reception time 1730 is thenfollowed by an RS processing time 1740, which includes a final RF chaintuning time 1750.

In the muted example 1760, a consecutive block of resources within theresource set are muted, thereby resulting in a period of time (labeled“muted resources” in FIG. 17 ) between a first set of resources and asecond set of resources that may be greater than a threshold value oftime. If so, as illustrated, different PWs may be used to capturedifferent sets of resources. In the example of FIG. 17 , a first PW(PW1) is defined to capture a first set of resources, and a second PW(PW2) is defined to capture a second set of resources.

It can be noted that, although the non-muted example 1710 includesnon-interleaved resources and the muted example 1760 includesinterleaved resources, embodiments are not so limited. Muting and PWusage as illustrated in FIG. 17 may occur when resources are interleavedand/or are not interleaved.

According to some embodiments, additional or alternative stopping rulesmay be applied. This can include, for example, instances where amuting-caused time gap may or may not considered for a stopping rule,such as defined in a governing specification or by preference of theLMF, target UE, and/or serving gNB. Additionally or alternatively, astopping rule may be applied when a number of RS resources in a PWreaches a processing and/or buffering capability of the target UE. Forexample, if a number of PRS resources in a PW reaches a limitation ofprocessing capability of a UE (e.g., which may result in a bufferoverflow) the PW merging operation may terminate for any following PWfragments.

According to some embodiments, the starting time of a PW may be based onthe SFN offset, subframe offset, periodicity, and/or RS set offset. Forexample, a start time of a PW may be aligned on a symbol level (e.g.,the first symbol of an RS resource minus the RF tuning time (if needed))or aligned on the slot level (e.g., the slot of the first symbol of aPRS resource minus the RF tuning time (if needed)). Similarly, the endtime of a PW may be defined on the symbol level or slot level. That is,the PW end time may be aligned on the symbol level (e.g., the lastsymbol of a PRS resource plus the processing time or RF tuning time), oraligned on the slot level (e.g., the slot of the last symbol of a PRSresource plus processing time or RF tuning time).

FIG. 18 is a flow diagram of a method 1800 of coordinating RS processingat a UE, according to an embodiment. Means for performing thefunctionality illustrated in one or more of the blocks shown in FIG. 18may be performed by hardware and/or software components of a UE (e.g., atarget UE). Example components of a UE are illustrated in FIG. 20 ,which is described in more detail below.

At block 1810, the functionality comprises receiving, at the UE, an RSconfiguration indicative of a timing of one or more RS resources. (Theone or more RS resources transmitted by one or more wireless networknodes, such as base stations, UEs, etc.) This may correspond, forexample, to the action at arrow 930 of FIG. 9 or the action at arrow1030 of FIG. 10 , as previously described. As indicated, the RSconfiguration is indicative of when one or more RS resources are to betransmitted. The RS configuration may further include informationregarding a BWP, CC, RBs, and/or other frequency-related aspects of theRS resources, as well as comb number, periodicity, and/or othercharacteristics of the RS resources (e.g., as discussed herein withregard to FIG. 5 ).

Means for performing functionality at block 1810 may comprise bus 2005,processor(s) 2010, memory 2060, wireless communication interface 2030,and/or other components of a UE 2000 as illustrated in FIG. 20 .

At block 1820, the functionality comprises obtaining a PW configurationbased at least in part on the RS configuration, wherein the PWconfiguration comprises information indicative of (i) one or more RSreception times of at least one PW for performing one or moremeasurements of the one or more RS resources, and (ii) a processing timeof the at least one PW. As described herein with regard to FIG. 11 , theone or more RS reception times may comprise time blocks during which theUE may receive one or more RS resources. The RS processing time maycomprise a time block during which received RS resources are processed(e.g., by performing correlation, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), etc.) toobtain measurements of the RS resources.

As indicated in the previously-described embodiments, a UE may obtain aPW configuration in different ways. For example, according to someembodiments, obtaining the PW configuration comprises sending a requestfor the PW configuration from the UE to a serving base station of theUE, wherein the request includes information indicative of the RSconfiguration, and subsequent to sending the request, receiving the PWconfiguration from the serving base station of the UE. According to someembodiments, obtaining the PW configuration may comprise determining thePW configuration with the UE based on an application of one or morepredetermined rules to the RS configuration. As previously indicated,determining a PW configuration may comprise applying rules to determineone or more PW fragments, then merging the one or more PW fragments whenmerger conditions exist. As such, according to some embodiments, theapplication of the one or more predetermined rules may comprisedetermining at least two PW fragments based on the RS configuration, andmerging the at least two PW fragments. In such embodiments, merging theat least two PW fragments may be based on a determination that a firstPW fragment of the at least two PW fragments is separated in time from asecond PW fragment of the at least two PW fragments by less than a firstthreshold amount of time, or a determination that the first PW fragmentof the at least two PW fragments overlaps a second PW fragment of the atleast two PW fragments in time by less than a second threshold amount oftime, or a combination thereof. According to some embodiments, theapplication of the one or more predetermined rules may comprisedetermining at least two PW fragments based on the RS configurationwherein a first PW fragment of the at least two PW fragments isseparated in time from a second PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments by less than a first threshold amount of time.

Means for performing functionality at block 1820 may comprise bus 2005,processor(s) 2010, memory 2060, wireless communication interface 2030,and/or other components of a UE 2000 as illustrated in FIG. 20 .

At block 1830, the functionality comprises performing the one or moremeasurements with the UE during the one or more RS reception times ofthe at least one PW. As indicated elsewhere herein, this may comprisereceiving the one or more RS resources during the one or more RSreception times of the PW and processing the one or more RS resourcesduring an RS processing time of the PW. Means for performingfunctionality at block 1830 may comprise bus 2005, processor(s) 2010,memory 2060, wireless communication interface 2030, and/or othercomponents of a UE 2000 as illustrated in FIG. 20 .

Depending on desired functionality, the method 1800 may include one ormore additional operations, as indicated in the embodiments previouslydescribed. For example, according to some embodiments, the at least onePW may comprise a first PW separated in time from a second PW by a timegap caused by RS resource muting. According to some embodiments, the atleast one PW may further comprise an UL RS transmission time, andwherein the method 1800 may further comprise performing an UL RStransmission during the UL RS transmission time of the at least one PW.According to some embodiments, obtaining the PW configuration maycomprise selecting, by the UE, the PW configuration from a plurality ofPW configurations provided to the UE by a serving base station of theUE. According to some embodiments, the PW configuration may furthercomprise information indicative of a starting time of the at least onePW, a duration of the at least one PW, a periodicity of the at least onePW, a priority of the one or more RS resources, or an indication of abandwidth part (BWP) of the one or more RS resources, or a combinationthereof. According to some embodiments, the method may further comprisesending UE capability information from the UE to a location server,wherein the RS configuration is received at the UE from the locationserver, responsive to sending the UE capability information. The atleast one PW may further comprises a radio frequency (RF) chain tuningtime, a period of time for non-RS communication, or an uplink (UL) RStransmission time, or a combination thereof. The one or more RSresources may comprise one or more Positioning Reference Signal (PRS)resources. According to some embodiments, the method 1800 may comprisesending information indicative of the one or more measurements from theUE to a location server.

FIG. 19 is a flow diagram of a method 1900 of coordinating RS processingfor a UE, according to an embodiment. Means for performing thefunctionality illustrated in one or more of the blocks shown in FIG. 19may be performed by hardware and/or software components of a basestation (e.g., the serving base station of the UE). Example componentsof a base station are illustrated in FIG. 21 , which is described inmore detail below.

At block 1910, the functionality comprises receiving, at the basestation, a request for a PW configuration for the UE, wherein the basestation comprises a serving base station of the UE, and the requestincludes information indicative of an RS configuration, the RSconfiguration indicative of a timing of one or more RS resources. Asindicated in the previously-described embodiments, the request for thePW configuration may be received from the UE or a location server. Aspreviously noted, the RS configuration may be include informationregarding a BWP, CC, RBs, and/or other frequency-related aspects of theRS resources, as well as comb number, periodicity, and/or othercharacteristics of the RS resources (e.g., as discussed herein withregard to FIG. 5 ). The information indicative of the RS configuration,received in the request at block 1910, may include some or all of theinformation of the RS configuration.

Means for performing functionality at block 1910 may comprise bus 2105,processor(s) 2110, memory 2160, wireless communication interface 2130,and/or other components of a base station 2100 as illustrated in FIG. 21.

At block 1920, the functionality comprises determining, at the basestation, the PW configuration based at least in part on the informationindicative of the RS configuration, wherein the PW configurationcomprises information indicative of one or more RS reception times of atleast one PW for performing one or more measurements of the one or moreRS resources, and a processing time of the at least one PW. Again, theone or more RS reception times may comprise time blocks during which theUE may receive one or more RS resources. The RS processing time maycomprise a time block during which received RS resources are processed(e.g., by performing correlation, Fast Fourier Transform (FFT), etc.) toobtain measurements of the RS resources.

Different embodiments may implement the functionality at block 1920differently, depending on desired functionality. According to someembodiments, determining the PW configuration may comprise determiningthe PW configuration based on an application of one or morepredetermined rules to the information indicative of the RSconfiguration. According to some embodiments, the application of the oneor more predetermined rules comprises determining at least two PWfragments based on the information indicative of the RS configuration,and merging the at least two PW fragments. Merging the at least two PWfragments may be based on a determination that a first PW fragment ofthe at least two PW fragments is separated in time from a second PWfragment of the at least two PW fragments by less than a first thresholdamount of time, or a determination that the first PW fragment of the atleast two PW fragments overlaps a second PW fragment of the at least twoPW fragments in time by less than a second threshold amount of time, ora combination thereof. According to some embodiments, the application ofthe one or more predetermined rules comprises determining at least twoPW fragments based on the information indicative of the RS configurationwherein a first PW fragment of the at least two PW fragments isseparated in time from a second PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments by less than a first threshold amount of time.

Means for performing functionality at block 1920 may comprise bus 2105,processor(s) 2110, memory 2160, wireless communication interface 2130,and/or other components of a base station 2100 as illustrated in FIG. 21.

Embodiments of the method 1900 may include one or more additionaloperations, depending on desired functionality. According to someembodiments, the at least one PW may comprise a first PW separated intime from a second PW by a time gap caused by RS resource muting.According to some embodiments, the method 1900 may further compriseproviding a plurality of PW configurations to the UE by the basestation. The PW configuration may further comprise informationindicative of a starting time of the at least one PW, a duration of theat least one PW, a periodicity of the at least one PW, a priority of theone or more RS resources, or an indication of a bandwidth part (BWP) ofthe one or more RS resources, or a combination thereof. The at least onePW may further comprise a radio frequency (RF) chain tuning time, aperiod of time for non-RS communication, or an uplink (UL) RStransmission time, or a combination thereof. According to someembodiments, the one or more RS resources comprise one or morePositioning Reference Signal (PRS) resources.

FIG. 20 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a UE 2000, which can beutilized as described herein above (e.g., in association with FIGS. 1-19), and may therefore correspond with the UE of other figures (e.g., UE105). For example, the UE 2000 can perform one or more of the functionsof the method shown in FIG. 18 . It should be noted that FIG. 20 ismeant only to provide a generalized illustration of various components,any or all of which may be utilized as appropriate. It can be notedthat, in some instances, components illustrated by FIG. 20 can belocalized to a single physical device and/or distributed among variousnetworked devices, which may be disposed at different physicallocations. Furthermore, as previously noted, the functionality of the UEdiscussed in the previously described embodiments may be executed by oneor more of the hardware and/or software components illustrated in FIG.20 .

The UE 2000 is shown comprising hardware elements that can beelectrically coupled via a bus 2005 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include aprocessor(s) 2010 which can include without limitation one or moregeneral-purpose processors (e.g., an application processor), one or morespecial-purpose processors (such as digital signal processor (DSP)chips, graphics acceleration processors, application specific integratedcircuits (ASICs), and/or the like), and/or other processing structuresor means. Processor(s) 2010 may comprise one or more processing units,which may be housed in a single integrated circuit (IC) or multiple ICs.As shown in FIG. 20 , some embodiments may have a separate DSP 2020,depending on desired functionality. Location determination and/or otherdeterminations based on wireless communication may be provided in theprocessor(s) 2010 and/or wireless communication interface 2030(discussed below). The UE 2000 also can include one or more inputdevices 2070, which can include without limitation one or morekeyboards, touch screens, touch pads, microphones, buttons, dials,switches, and/or the like; and one or more output devices 2015, whichcan include without limitation one or more displays (e.g., touchscreens), light emitting diodes (LEDs), speakers, and/or the like.

The UE 2000 may also include a wireless communication interface 2030,which may comprise without limitation a modem, a network card, aninfrared communication device, a wireless communication device, and/or achipset (such as a Bluetooth® device, an IEEE 802.11 device, an IEEE802.15.4 device, a Wi-Fi device, a WiMAX device, a WAN device, and/orvarious cellular devices, etc.), and/or the like, which may enable theUE 2000 to communicate with other devices as described in theembodiments above. The wireless communication interface 2030 may permitdata and signaling to be communicated (e.g., transmitted and received)with TRPs of a network, for example, via eNBs, gNBs, ng-eNBs, accesspoints, various base stations and/or other access node types, and/orother network components, computer systems, and/or any other electronicdevices communicatively coupled with TRPs or base stations, as describedherein. The communication can be carried out via one or more wirelesscommunication antenna(s) 2032 that send and/or receive wireless signals2034. According to some embodiments, the wireless communicationantenna(s) 2032 may comprise a plurality of discrete antennas, antennaarrays, or any combination thereof. The antenna(s) 2032 may be capableof transmitting and receiving wireless signals using beams (e.g., Txbeams and Rx beams). Beam formation may be performed using digitaland/or analog beam formation techniques, with respective digital and/oranalog circuitry. The wireless communication interface 2030 may includesuch circuitry.

Depending on desired functionality, the wireless communication interface2030 may comprise a separate receiver and transmitter, or anycombination of transceivers, transmitters, and/or receivers tocommunicate with base stations (e.g., ng-eNBs and gNBs) and otherterrestrial transceivers, such as wireless devices and access points.The UE 2000 may communicate with different data networks that maycomprise various network types. For example, a Wireless Wide AreaNetwork (WWAN) may be a CDMA network, a Time Division Multiple Access(TDMA) network, a Frequency Division Multiple Access (FDMA) network, anOrthogonal Frequency Division Multiple Access (OFDMA) network, aSingle-Carrier Frequency Division Multiple Access (SC-FDMA) network, aWiMAX (IEEE 802.16) network, and so on. A CDMA network may implement oneor more RATs such as CDMA2000®, WCDMA, and so on. CDMA2000® includesIS-95, IS-2000 and/or IS-856 standards. A TDMA network may implementGSM, Digital Advanced Mobile Phone System (D-AMPS), or some other RAT.An OFDMA network may employ LTE, LTE Advanced, 5G NR, and so on. 5G NR,LTE, LTE Advanced, GSM, and WCDMA are described in documents from 3GPP.CDMA2000® is described in documents from a consortium named “3rdGeneration Partnership Project 2” (3GPP2). 3GPP and 3GPP2 documents arepublicly available. A wireless local area network (WLAN) may also be anIEEE 802.11x network, and a wireless personal area network (WPAN) may bea Bluetooth network, an IEEE 802.15x, or some other type of network. Thetechniques described herein may also be used for any combination ofWWAN, WLAN and/or WPAN.

The UE 2000 can further include sensor(s) 2040. Sensor(s) 2040 maycomprise, without limitation, one or more inertial sensors and/or othersensors (e.g., accelerometer(s), gyroscope(s), camera(s),magnetometer(s), altimeter(s), microphone(s), proximity sensor(s), lightsensor(s), barometer(s), and the like), some of which may be used toobtain position-related measurements and/or other information.

Embodiments of the UE 2000 may also include a Global NavigationSatellite System (GNSS) receiver 2080 capable of receiving signals 2084from one or more GNSS satellites using an antenna 2082 (which could bethe same as antenna 2032). Positioning based on GNSS signal measurementcan be utilized to complement and/or incorporate the techniquesdescribed herein. The GNSS receiver 2080 can extract a position of theUE 2000, using conventional techniques, from GNSS satellites 110 of aGNSS system, such as Global Positioning System (GPS), Galileo, GLONASS,Quasi-Zenith Satellite System (QZSS) over Japan, IRNSS over India,BeiDou Navigation Satellite System (BDS) over China, and/or the like.Moreover, the GNSS receiver 2080 can be used with various augmentationsystems (e.g., a Satellite Based Augmentation System (SBAS)) that may beassociated with or otherwise enabled for use with one or more globaland/or regional navigation satellite systems, such as, e.g., Wide AreaAugmentation System (WAAS), European Geostationary Navigation OverlayService (EGNOS), Multi-functional Satellite Augmentation System (MSAS),and Geo Augmented Navigation system (GAGAN), and/or the like.

It can be noted that, although GNSS receiver 2080 is illustrated in FIG.20 as a distinct component, embodiments are not so limited. As usedherein, the term “GNSS receiver” may comprise hardware and/or softwarecomponents configured to obtain GNSS measurements (measurements fromGNSS satellites). In some embodiments, therefore, the GNSS receiver maycomprise a measurement engine executed (as software) by one or moreprocessors, such as processor(s) 2010, DSP 2020, and/or a processorwithin the wireless communication interface 2030 (e.g., in a modem). AGNSS receiver may optionally also include a positioning engine, whichcan use GNSS measurements from the measurement engine to determine aposition of the GNSS receiver using an Extended Kalman Filter (EKF),Weighted Least Squares (WLS), a hatch filter, particle filter, or thelike. The positioning engine may also be executed by one or moreprocessors, such as processor(s) 2010 or DSP 2020.

The UE 2000 may further include and/or be in communication with a memory2060. The memory 2060 can include, without limitation, local and/ornetwork accessible storage, a disk drive, a drive array, an opticalstorage device, a solid-state storage device, such as a random accessmemory (RAM), and/or a read-only memory (ROM), which can beprogrammable, flash-updateable, and/or the like. Such storage devicesmay be configured to implement any appropriate data stores, includingwithout limitation, various file systems, database structures, and/orthe like.

The memory 2060 of the UE 2000 also can comprise software elements (notshown in FIG. 20 ), including an operating system, device drivers,executable libraries, and/or other code, such as one or more applicationprograms, which may comprise computer programs provided by variousembodiments, and/or may be designed to implement methods, and/orconfigure systems, provided by other embodiments, as described herein.Merely by way of example, one or more procedures described with respectto the method(s) discussed above may be implemented as code and/orinstructions in memory 2060 that are executable by the UE 2000 (and/orprocessor(s) 2010 or DSP 2020 within UE 2000). In some embodiments,then, such code and/or instructions can be used to configure and/oradapt a general-purpose computer (or other device) to perform one ormore operations in accordance with the described methods.

FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a base station 2100,which can be utilized as described herein above (e.g., in associationwith FIGS. 1-19 ) and may therefore correspond with a base station orTRP as described with respect to these other figures (e.g., base station120, TRP 320, etc.). It should be noted that FIG. 21 is meant only toprovide a generalized illustration of various components, any or all ofwhich may be utilized as appropriate. In some embodiments, the basestation 2100 may correspond to a gNB, an ng-eNB, and/or (more generally)a TRP.

The base station 2100 is shown comprising hardware elements that can beelectrically coupled via a bus 2105 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may include aprocessor(s) 2110 which can include without limitation one or moregeneral-purpose processors, one or more special-purpose processors (suchas DSP chips, graphics acceleration processors, ASICs, and/or the like),and/or other processing structure or means. As shown in FIG. 21 , someembodiments may have a separate DSP 2120, depending on desiredfunctionality. Location determination and/or other determinations basedon wireless communication may be provided in the processor(s) 2110and/or wireless communication interface 2130 (discussed below),according to some embodiments. The base station 2100 also can includeone or more input devices, which can include without limitation akeyboard, display, mouse, microphone, button(s), dial(s), switch(es),and/or the like; and one or more output devices, which can includewithout limitation a display, light emitting diode (LED), speakers,and/or the like.

The base station 2100 might also include a wireless communicationinterface 2130, which may comprise without limitation a modem, a networkcard, an infrared communication device, a wireless communication device,and/or a chipset (such as a Bluetooth® device, an IEEE 802.11 device, anIEEE 802.15.4 device, a Wi-Fi device, a WiMAX device, cellularcommunication facilities, etc.), and/or the like, which may enable thebase station 2100 to communicate as described herein. The wirelesscommunication interface 2130 may permit data and signaling to becommunicated (e.g., transmitted and received) to UEs, other basestations/TRPs (e.g., eNBs, gNBs, and ng-eNBs), and/or other networkcomponents, computer systems, and/or any other electronic devicesdescribed herein. The communication can be carried out via one or morewireless communication antenna(s) 2132 that send and/or receive wirelesssignals 2134.

The base station 2100 may also include a network interface 2180, whichcan include support of wireline communication technologies. The networkinterface 2180 may include a modem, network card, chipset, and/or thelike. The network interface 2180 may include one or more input and/oroutput communication interfaces to permit data to be exchanged with anetwork, communication network servers, computer systems, and/or anyother electronic devices described herein.

In many embodiments, the base station 2100 may further comprise a memory2160. The memory 2160 can include, without limitation, local and/ornetwork accessible storage, a disk drive, a drive array, an opticalstorage device, a solid-state storage device, such as a RAM, and/or aROM, which can be programmable, flash-updateable, and/or the like. Suchstorage devices may be configured to implement any appropriate datastores, including without limitation, various file systems, databasestructures, and/or the like.

The memory 2160 of the base station 2100 also may comprise softwareelements (not shown in FIG. 21 ), including an operating system, devicedrivers, executable libraries, and/or other code, such as one or moreapplication programs, which may comprise computer programs provided byvarious embodiments, and/or may be designed to implement methods, and/orconfigure systems, provided by other embodiments, as described herein.Merely by way of example, one or more procedures described with respectto the method(s) discussed above may be implemented as code and/orinstructions in memory 2160 that are executable by the base station 2100(and/or processor(s) 2110 or DSP 2120 within base station 2100). In someembodiments, then, such code and/or instructions can be used toconfigure and/or adapt a general-purpose computer (or other device) toperform one or more operations in accordance with the described methods.

FIG. 22 is a block diagram of an embodiment of a computer system 2200,which may be used, in whole or in part, to provide the functions of oneor more network components as described in the embodiments herein (e.g.,location server 160 of FIG. 1 , LMF of FIGS. 9 and 10 , etc.). It shouldbe noted that FIG. 22 is meant only to provide a generalizedillustration of various components, any or all of which may be utilizedas appropriate. FIG. 22 , therefore, broadly illustrates how individualsystem elements may be implemented in a relatively separated orrelatively more integrated manner. In addition, it can be noted thatcomponents illustrated by FIG. 22 can be localized to a single deviceand/or distributed among various networked devices, which may bedisposed at different geographical locations.

The computer system 2200 is shown comprising hardware elements that canbe electrically coupled via a bus 2205 (or may otherwise be incommunication, as appropriate). The hardware elements may includeprocessor(s) 2210, which may comprise without limitation one or moregeneral-purpose processors, one or more special-purpose processors (suchas digital signal processing chips, graphics acceleration processors,and/or the like), and/or other processing structure, which can beconfigured to perform one or more of the methods described herein. Thecomputer system 2200 also may comprise one or more input devices 2215,which may comprise without limitation a mouse, a keyboard, a camera, amicrophone, and/or the like; and one or more output devices 2220, whichmay comprise without limitation a display device, a printer, and/or thelike.

The computer system 2200 may further include (and/or be in communicationwith) one or more non-transitory storage devices 2225, which cancomprise, without limitation, local and/or network accessible storage,and/or may comprise, without limitation, a disk drive, a drive array, anoptical storage device, a solid-state storage device, such as a RAMand/or ROM, which can be programmable, flash-updateable, and/or thelike. Such storage devices may be configured to implement anyappropriate data stores, including without limitation, various filesystems, database structures, and/or the like. Such data stores mayinclude database(s) and/or other data structures used store andadminister messages and/or other information to be sent to one or moredevices via hubs, as described herein.

The computer system 2200 may also include a communications subsystem2230, which may comprise wireless communication technologies managed andcontrolled by a wireless communication interface 2233, as well as wiredtechnologies (such as Ethernet, coaxial communications, universal serialbus (USB), and the like). The wireless communication interface 2233 maycomprise one or more wireless transceivers may send and receive wirelesssignals 2255 (e.g., signals according to 5G NR or LTE) via wirelessantenna(s) 2250. Thus the communications subsystem 2230 may comprise amodem, a network card (wireless or wired), an infrared communicationdevice, a wireless communication device, and/or a chipset, and/or thelike, which may enable the computer system 2200 to communicate on any orall of the communication networks described herein to any device on therespective network, including a User Equipment (UE), base stationsand/or other TRPs, and/or any other electronic devices described herein.Hence, the communications subsystem 2230 may be used to receive and senddata as described in the embodiments herein.

In many embodiments, the computer system 2200 will further comprise aworking memory 2235, which may comprise a RAM or ROM device, asdescribed above. Software elements, shown as being located within theworking memory 2235, may comprise an operating system 2240, devicedrivers, executable libraries, and/or other code, such as one or moreapplications 2245, which may comprise computer programs provided byvarious embodiments, and/or may be designed to implement methods, and/orconfigure systems, provided by other embodiments, as described herein.Merely by way of example, one or more procedures described with respectto the method(s) discussed above might be implemented as code and/orinstructions executable by a computer (and/or a processor within acomputer); in an aspect, then, such code and/or instructions can be usedto configure and/or adapt a general purpose computer (or other device)to perform one or more operations in accordance with the describedmethods.

A set of these instructions and/or code might be stored on anon-transitory computer-readable storage medium, such as the storagedevice(s) 2225 described above. In some cases, the storage medium mightbe incorporated within a computer system, such as computer system 2200.In other embodiments, the storage medium might be separate from acomputer system (e.g., a removable medium, such as an optical disc),and/or provided in an installation package, such that the storage mediumcan be used to program, configure, and/or adapt a general purposecomputer with the instructions/code stored thereon. These instructionsmight take the form of executable code, which is executable by thecomputer system 2200 and/or might take the form of source and/orinstallable code, which, upon compilation and/or installation on thecomputer system 2200 (e.g., using any of a variety of generallyavailable compilers, installation programs, compression/decompressionutilities, etc.), then takes the form of executable code.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that substantialvariations may be made in accordance with specific requirements. Forexample, customized hardware might also be used and/or particularelements might be implemented in hardware, software (including portablesoftware, such as applets, etc.), or both. Further, connection to othercomputing devices such as network input/output devices may be employed.

With reference to the appended figures, components that can includememory can include non-transitory machine-readable media. The term“machine-readable medium” and “computer-readable medium” as used herein,refer to any storage medium that participates in providing data thatcauses a machine to operate in a specific fashion. In embodimentsprovided hereinabove, various machine-readable media might be involvedin providing instructions/code to processors and/or other device(s) forexecution. Additionally or alternatively, the machine-readable mediamight be used to store and/or carry such instructions/code. In manyimplementations, a computer-readable medium is a physical and/ortangible storage medium. Such a medium may take many forms, includingbut not limited to, non-volatile media and volatile media. Common formsof computer-readable media include, for example, magnetic and/or opticalmedia, any other physical medium with patterns of holes, a RAM, aprogrammable ROM (PROM), erasable PROM (EPROM), a FLASH-EPROM, any othermemory chip or cartridge, or any other medium from which a computer canread instructions and/or code.

The methods, systems, and devices discussed herein are examples. Variousembodiments may omit, substitute, or add various procedures orcomponents as appropriate. For instance, features described with respectto certain embodiments may be combined in various other embodiments.Different aspects and elements of the embodiments may be combined in asimilar manner. The various components of the figures provided hereincan be embodied in hardware and/or software. Also, technology evolvesand, thus many of the elements are examples that do not limit the scopeof the disclosure to those specific examples.

It has proven convenient at times, principally for reasons of commonusage, to refer to such signals as bits, information, values, elements,symbols, characters, variables, terms, numbers, numerals, or the like.It should be understood, however, that all of these or similar terms areto be associated with appropriate physical quantities and are merelyconvenient labels. Unless specifically stated otherwise, as is apparentfrom the discussion above, it is appreciated that throughout thisSpecification discussion utilizing terms such as “processing,”“computing,” “calculating,” “determining,” “ascertaining,”“identifying,” “associating,” “measuring,” “performing,” or the likerefer to actions or processes of a specific apparatus, such as a specialpurpose computer or a similar special purpose electronic computingdevice. In the context of this Specification, therefore, a specialpurpose computer or a similar special purpose electronic computingdevice is capable of manipulating or transforming signals, typicallyrepresented as physical electronic, electrical, or magnetic quantitieswithin memories, registers, or other information storage devices,transmission devices, or display devices of the special purpose computeror similar special purpose electronic computing device.

Terms, “and” and “or” as used herein, may include a variety of meaningsthat also is expected to depend, at least in part, upon the context inwhich such terms are used. Typically, “or” if used to associate a list,such as A, B, or C, is intended to mean A, B, and C, here used in theinclusive sense, as well as A, B, or C, here used in the exclusivesense. In addition, the term “one or more” as used herein may be used todescribe any feature, structure, or characteristic in the singular ormay be used to describe some combination of features, structures, orcharacteristics. However, it should be noted that this is merely anillustrative example and claimed subject matter is not limited to thisexample. Furthermore, the term “at least one of” if used to associate alist, such as A, B, or C, can be interpreted to mean any combination ofA, B, and/or C, such as A, AB, AA, AAB, AABBCCC, etc.

Having described several embodiments, various modifications, alternativeconstructions, and equivalents may be used without departing from thescope of the disclosure. For example, the above elements may merely be acomponent of a larger system, wherein other rules may take precedenceover or otherwise modify the application of the various embodiments.Also, a number of steps may be undertaken before, during, or after theabove elements are considered. Accordingly, the above description doesnot limit the scope of the disclosure.

In view of this description embodiments may include differentcombinations of features. Implementation examples are described in thefollowing numbered clauses:

Clause 1. A method of coordinating reference signal (RS) processing at auser equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving, at the UE, an RSconfiguration indicative of a timing of one or more RS resources;obtaining a processing window (PW) configuration based at least in parton the RS configuration, wherein the PW configuration comprisesinformation indicative of: one or more RS reception times of at leastone PW for performing one or more measurements of the one or more RSresources, and a processing time of the at least one PW; and performingthe one or more measurements with the UE during the one or more RSreception times of the at least one PW.Clause 2. The method of clause 1, wherein the at least one PW furthercomprises an uplink (UL) RS transmission time, and wherein the methodfurther comprises performing an UL RS transmission during the UL RStransmission time of the at least one PW.Clause 3. The method of any of clauses 1-2 wherein obtaining the PWconfiguration comprises: sending a request for the PW configuration fromthe UE to a serving base station of the UE, wherein the request includesinformation indicative of the RS configuration; and subsequent tosending the request, receiving the PW configuration from the servingbase station of the UE.Clause 4. The method of any of clauses 1-3 wherein obtaining the PWconfiguration comprises determining the PW configuration with the UEbased on an application of one or more predetermined rules to the RSconfiguration.Clause 5. The method of clause 4 wherein the application of the one ormore predetermined rules comprises: determining at least two PWfragments based on the RS configuration; and merging the at least two PWfragments.Clause 6. The method of clause 5 wherein merging the at least two PWfragments is based on: a determination that a first PW fragment of theat least two PW fragments is separated in time from a second PW fragmentof the at least two PW fragments by less than a first threshold amountof time, or a determination that the first PW fragment of the at leasttwo PW fragments overlaps a second PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments in time by less than a second threshold amount of time, or acombination thereof.Clause 7. The method of clause 4 wherein the application of the one ormore predetermined rules comprises determining at least two PW fragmentsbased on the RS configuration wherein a first PW fragment of the atleast two PW fragments is separated in time from a second PW fragment ofthe at least two PW fragments by less than a first threshold amount oftime.Clause 8. The method of any of clauses 1-3 or 7 wherein obtaining the PWconfiguration comprises selecting, by the UE, the PW configuration froma plurality of PW configurations provided to the UE by a serving basestation of the UE.Clause 9. The method of any of clauses 1-8 wherein the PW configurationfurther comprises information indicative of: a starting time of the atleast one PW, a duration of the at least one PW, a periodicity of the atleast one PW, a priority of the one or more RS resources, or anindication of a bandwidth part (BWP) of the one or more RS resources, ora combination thereof.Clause 10. The method of any of clauses 1-9 further comprising sendingUE capability information from the UE to a location server, wherein theRS configuration is received at the UE from the location server,responsive to sending the UE capability information.Clause 11. The method of any of clauses 1-10 wherein the at least one PWfurther comprises: a radio frequency (RF) chain tuning time, a period oftime for non-RS communication, or an UL RS transmission time, or acombination thereof.Clause 12. The method of any of clauses 1-11 wherein the one or more RSresources comprise one or more Positioning Reference Signal (PRS)resources.Clause 13. The method of any of clauses 1-12 wherein performing the oneor more measurements with the UE during the one or more RS receptiontimes of the at least one PW comprises assigning a higher priority forperforming the one or more measurements than a priority of other datacommunication of the UE.Clause 14. The method of any of clauses 1-13 further comprising sendinginformation indicative of the one or more measurements from the UE to alocation server.Clause 15. A method of coordinating reference signal (RS) processing fora user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving, at a basestation, a request for a processing window (PW) configuration for theUE, wherein: the base station comprises a serving base station of theUE, and the request includes information indicative of an RSconfiguration, the RS configuration indicative of a timing of one ormore RS resources; and determining, at the base station, the PWconfiguration based at least in part on the information indicative ofthe RS configuration, wherein the PW configuration comprises informationindicative of: one or more RS reception times of at least one PW forperforming one or more measurements of the one or more RS resources, anda processing time of the at least one PW.Clause 16. The method of clause 15, wherein the request for the PWconfiguration is received from the UE or a location server.Clause 17. The method of any of clauses 15-16 further comprising sendingthe PW configuration from the base station to the UE.Clause 18. The method of any of clauses 15-17 wherein determining the PWconfiguration comprises determining the PW configuration based on anapplication of one or more predetermined rules to the informationindicative of the RS configuration.Clause 19. The method of clause 18 wherein the application of the one ormore predetermined rules comprises: determining at least two PWfragments based on the information indicative of the RS configuration;and merging the at least two PW fragments.Clause 20. The method of clause 19 wherein merging the at least two PWfragments is based on: a determination that a first PW fragment of theat least two PW fragments is separated in time from a second PW fragmentof the at least two PW fragments by less than a first threshold amountof time, or a determination that the first PW fragment of the at leasttwo PW fragments overlaps a second PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments in time by less than a second threshold amount of time, or acombination thereof.Clause 21. The method of clause 18 wherein the application of the one ormore predetermined rules comprises determining at least two PW fragmentsbased on the information indicative of the RS configuration wherein afirst PW fragment of the at least two PW fragments is separated in timefrom a second PW fragment of the at least two PW fragments by less thana first threshold amount of time.Clause 22. The method of any of clauses 15-21 wherein the at least onePW comprises a first PW separated in time from a second PW by a time gapcaused by RS resource muting.Clause 23. The method of any of clauses 15-22 further comprisingproviding a plurality of PW configurations to the UE by the basestation.Clause 24. The method of any of clauses 15-23 wherein the PWconfiguration further comprises information indicative of: a startingtime of the at least one PW, a duration of the at least one PW, aperiodicity of the at least one PW, a priority of the one or more RSresources, or an indication of a bandwidth part (BWP) of the one or moreRS resources, or a combination thereof.Clause 25. The method of any of clauses 15-24 wherein the at least onePW further comprises: a radio frequency (RF) chain tuning time, a periodof time for non-RS communication, or an uplink (UL) RS transmissiontime, or a combination thereof.Clause 26. The method of any of clauses 15-25 wherein the one or more RSresources comprise one or more Positioning Reference Signal (PRS)resources.Clause 27. A user equipment (UE) for coordinating reference signal (RS)processing, the UE comprising: a transceiver; a memory; and one or moreprocessors communicatively coupled with the transceiver and the memory,wherein the one or more processors are configured to: receive, via thetransceiver, an RS configuration indicative of a timing of one or moreRS resources; obtain a processing window (PW) configuration based atleast in part on the RS configuration, wherein the PW configurationcomprises information indicative of: one or more RS reception times ofat least one PW for performing one or more measurements of the one ormore RS resources, and a processing time of the at least one PW; andperform the one or more measurements, using the transceiver, during theone or more RS reception times of the at least one PW.Clause 28. The UE of clause 27, wherein the one or more processors arefurther configured to perform an uplink (UL) RS transmission during anUL RS transmission time of the at least one PW.Clause 29. The UE of any of clauses 27-28 wherein, to obtain the PWconfiguration, the one or more processors are configured to send arequest for the PW configuration from the UE to a serving base stationof the UE, wherein the request includes information indicative of the RSconfiguration; and subsequent to sending the request, receive the PWconfiguration from the serving base station of the UE.Clause 30. The UE of any of clauses 27-29 wherein, to obtain the PWconfiguration, the one or more processors are configured to determinethe PW configuration with the UE based on an application of one or morepredetermined rules to the RS configuration.Clause 31. The UE of clause 30 wherein, to perform the application ofthe one or more predetermined rules, the one or more processors areconfigured to determine at least two PW fragments based on the RSconfiguration; and merge the at least two PW fragments.Clause 32. The UE of clause 31 wherein the one or more processors areconfigured to merge the at least two PW fragments based on: adetermination that a first PW fragment of the at least two PW fragmentsis separated in time from a second PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments by less than a first threshold amount of time, or adetermination that the first PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments overlaps a second PW fragment of the at least two PW fragmentsin time by less than a second threshold amount of time, or a combinationthereof.Clause 33. The UE of clause 30 wherein, to perform the application ofthe one or more predetermined rules, the one or more processors areconfigured to determine at least two PW fragments based on the RSconfiguration wherein a first PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments is separated in time from a second PW fragment of the at leasttwo PW fragments by less than a first threshold amount of time.Clause 34. The UE of any of clauses 27-29 or 33 wherein, to obtain thePW configuration, the one or more processors are configured to selectthe PW configuration from a plurality of PW configurations provided tothe UE by a serving base station of the UE.Clause 35. The UE of any of clauses 27-34 wherein, to obtain the PWconfiguration, the one or more processors are configured to obtaininformation indicative of a starting time of the at least one PW, aduration of the at least one PW, a periodicity of the at least one PW, apriority of the one or more RS resources, or an indication of abandwidth part (BWP) of the one or more RS resources, or a combinationthereof.Clause 36. The UE of any of clauses 27-35 wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured to send UE capability information fromthe UE to a location server, via the transceiver, wherein the RSconfiguration is received at the UE from the location server, responsiveto sending the UE capability information.Clause 37. The UE of any of clauses 27-36 wherein the one or more RSresources comprise one or more Positioning Reference Signal (PRS)resources.Clause 38. The UE of any of clauses 27-37 wherein, to perform the one ormore measurements with the UE during the one or more RS reception timesof the at least one PW, the one or more processors are configured toassign a higher priority for performing the one or more measurementsthan a priority of other data communication of the UE.Clause 39. The UE of any of clauses 27-38 wherein the one or moreprocessors are further configured to send information indicative of theone or more measurements from the UE to a location server via thetransceiver.Clause 40. A base station for coordinating reference signal (RS)processing for a user equipment (UE), the base station comprising: atransceiver; a memory; and one or more processors communicativelycoupled with the transceiver and the memory, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to: receive, via the transceiver, a requestfor a processing window (PW) configuration for the UE, wherein: the basestation comprises a serving base station of the UE, and the requestincludes information indicative of an RS configuration, the RSconfiguration indicative of a timing of one or more RS resources; anddetermine the PW configuration based at least in part on the informationindicative of the RS configuration, wherein the PW configurationcomprises information indicative of: one or more RS reception times ofat least one PW for performing one or more measurements of the one ormore RS resources, and a processing time of the at least one PW.Clause 41. The base station of clause 40, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to receive the request for the PWconfiguration from the UE or a location server.Clause 42. The base station of any of clauses 40-41 wherein the one ormore processors are further configured to send the PW configuration fromto the UE.Clause 43. The base station of any of clauses 40-42 wherein the one ormore processors are configured to determine the PW configuration basedon an application of one or more predetermined rules to the informationindicative of the RS configuration.Clause 44. The base station of clause 43 wherein, to perform theapplication of the one or more predetermined rules, the one or moreprocessors are configured to determine at least two PW fragments basedon the information indicative of the RS configuration; and merge the atleast two PW fragments.Clause 45. The base station of any of clauses 40-44 wherein the one ormore processors are configured to merge the at least two PW fragmentsbased on: a determination that a first PW fragment of the at least twoPW fragments is separated in time from a second PW fragment of the atleast two PW fragments by less than a first threshold amount of time, ora determination that the first PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments overlaps a second PW fragment of the at least two PW fragmentsin time by less than a second threshold amount of time, or a combinationthereof.Clause 46. The base station of clause 45 wherein, to perform theapplication of the one or more predetermined rules, the one or moreprocessors are configured to determine at least two PW fragments basedon the information indicative of the RS configuration wherein a first PWfragment of the at least two PW fragments is separated in time from asecond PW fragment of the at least two PW fragments by less than a firstthreshold amount of time.Clause 47. The base station of any of clauses 40-46 wherein the one ormore processors are further configured to provide a plurality of PWconfigurations to the UE by the base station.Clause 48. The base station of any of clauses 40-47 wherein, todetermine the PW configuration, the one or more processors areconfigured to determine information indicative of a starting time of theat least one PW, a duration of the at least one PW, a periodicity of theat least one PW, a priority of the one or more RS resources, or anindication of a bandwidth part (BWP) of the one or more RS resources, ora combination thereof.Clause 49. The base station of any of clauses 40-48 wherein, todetermine the PW configuration, the one or more processors areconfigured to determine a radio frequency (RF) chain tuning time, aperiod of time for non-RS communication, or an uplink (UL) RStransmission time, or a combination thereof.Clause 50. The base station of any of clauses 40-49 wherein the one ormore RS resources comprise one or more Positioning Reference Signal(PRS) resources.Clause 51. An apparatus having means for performing the method of anyone of clauses 1-26.Clause 52. A non-transitory computer-readable medium storinginstructions, the instructions comprising code for performing the methodof any one of clauses 1-26.

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of coordinating reference signal (RS)processing at a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving,at the UE, an RS configuration indicative of a timing of one or more RSresources; obtaining a processing window (PW) configuration based atleast in part on the RS configuration, wherein the PW configurationcomprises information indicative of: one or more RS reception times ofat least one PW for performing one or more measurements of the one ormore RS resources, and a processing time of the at least one PW; andperforming the one or more measurements with the UE during the one ormore RS reception times of the at least one PW.
 2. The method of claim1, wherein the at least one PW further comprises an uplink (UL) RStransmission time, and wherein the method further comprises performingan UL RS transmission during the UL RS transmission time of the at leastone PW.
 3. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the PW configurationcomprises: sending a request for the PW configuration from the UE to aserving base station of the UE, wherein the request includes informationindicative of the RS configuration; and subsequent to sending therequest, receiving the PW configuration from the serving base station ofthe UE.
 4. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining the PW configurationcomprises determining the PW configuration with the UE based on anapplication of one or more predetermined rules to the RS configuration.5. The method of claim 4, wherein the application of the one or morepredetermined rules comprises: determining at least two PW fragmentsbased on the RS configuration; and merging the at least two PWfragments.
 6. The method of claim 5, wherein merging the at least two PWfragments is based on: a determination that a first PW fragment of theat least two PW fragments is separated in time from a second PW fragmentof the at least two PW fragments by less than a first threshold amountof time, or a determination that the first PW fragment of the at leasttwo PW fragments overlaps the second PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments in time by less than a second threshold amount of time, or acombination thereof.
 7. The method of claim 4, wherein the applicationof the one or more predetermined rules comprises determining at leasttwo PW fragments based on the RS configuration wherein a first PWfragment of the at least two PW fragments is separated in time from asecond PW fragment of the at least two PW fragments by less than a firstthreshold amount of time.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein obtainingthe PW configuration comprises selecting, by the UE, the PWconfiguration from a plurality of PW configurations provided to the UEby a serving base station of the UE.
 9. The method of claim 1, whereinthe PW configuration further comprises information indicative of: astarting time of the at least one PW, a duration of the at least one PW,a periodicity of the at least one PW, a priority of the one or more RSresources, or an indication of a bandwidth part (BWP) of the one or moreRS resources, or a combination thereof.
 10. The method of claim 1,further comprising sending UE capability information from the UE to alocation server, wherein the RS configuration is received at the UE fromthe location server, responsive to sending the UE capabilityinformation.
 11. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one PWfurther comprises: a radio frequency (RF) chain tuning time, a period oftime for non-RS communication, or an UL RS transmission time, or acombination thereof.
 12. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or moreRS resources comprise one or more Positioning Reference Signal (PRS)resources.
 13. The method of claim 1, wherein performing the one or moremeasurements with the UE during the one or more RS reception times ofthe at least one PW comprises assigning a higher priority for performingthe one or more measurements than a priority of other data communicationof the UE.
 14. The method of claim 1, further comprising sendinginformation indicative of the one or more measurements from the UE to alocation server.
 15. A method of coordinating reference signal (RS)processing for a user equipment (UE), the method comprising: receiving,at a base station, a request for a processing window (PW) configurationfor the UE, wherein: the base station comprises a serving base stationof the UE, and the request includes information indicative of an RSconfiguration, the RS configuration indicative of a timing of one ormore RS resources; and determining, at the base station, the PWconfiguration based at least in part on the information indicative ofthe RS configuration, wherein the PW configuration comprises informationindicative of: one or more RS reception times of at least one PW forperforming one or more measurements of the one or more RS resources, anda processing time of the at least one PW.
 16. The method of claim 15,wherein the request for the PW configuration is received from the UE ora location server.
 17. The method of claim 15, further comprisingsending the PW configuration from the base station to the UE.
 18. Themethod of claim 15, wherein determining the PW configuration comprisesdetermining the PW configuration based on an application of one or morepredetermined rules to the information indicative of the RSconfiguration.
 19. The method of claim 18, wherein the application ofthe one or more predetermined rules comprises: determining at least twoPW fragments based on the information indicative of the RSconfiguration; and merging the at least two PW fragments.
 20. The methodof claim 19, wherein merging the at least two PW fragments is based on:a determination that a first PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments is separated in time from a second PW fragment of the at leasttwo PW fragments by less than a first threshold amount of time, or adetermination that the first PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments overlaps the second PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments in time by less than a second threshold amount of time, or acombination thereof.
 21. The method of claim 18, wherein the applicationof the one or more predetermined rules comprises determining at leasttwo PW fragments based on the information indicative of the RSconfiguration wherein a first PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments is separated in time from a second PW fragment of the at leasttwo PW fragments by less than a first threshold amount of time.
 22. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the at least one PW comprises a first PWseparated in time from a second PW by a time gap caused by RS resourcemuting.
 23. The method of claim 15, further comprising providing aplurality of PW configurations to the UE by the base station.
 24. Themethod of claim 15, wherein the PW configuration further comprisesinformation indicative of: a starting time of the at least one PW, aduration of the at least one PW, a periodicity of the at least one PW, apriority of the one or more RS resources, or an indication of abandwidth part (BWP) of the one or more RS resources, or a combinationthereof.
 25. The method of claim 15, wherein the at least one PW furthercomprises: a radio frequency (RF) chain tuning time, a period of timefor non-RS communication, or an uplink (UL) RS transmission time, or acombination thereof.
 26. The method of claim 15, wherein the one or moreRS resources comprise one or more Positioning Reference Signal (PRS)resources.
 27. A user equipment (UE) for coordinating reference signal(RS) processing, the UE comprising: a transceiver; a memory; and one ormore processors communicatively coupled with the transceiver and thememory, wherein the one or more processors are configured to: receive,via the transceiver, an RS configuration indicative of a timing of oneor more RS resources; obtain a processing window (PW) configurationbased at least in part on the RS configuration, wherein the PWconfiguration comprises information indicative of: one or more RSreception times of at least one PW for performing one or moremeasurements of the one or more RS resources, and a processing time ofthe at least one PW; and perform the one or more measurements, using thetransceiver, during the one or more RS reception times of the at leastone PW.
 28. The UE of claim 27, wherein the one or more processors arefurther configured to perform an uplink (UL) RS transmission during anUL RS transmission time of the at least one PW.
 29. The UE of claim 27,wherein, to obtain the PW configuration, the one or more processors areconfigured to: send a request for the PW configuration from the UE to aserving base station of the UE, wherein the request includes informationindicative of the RS configuration; and subsequent to sending therequest, receive the PW configuration from the serving base station ofthe UE.
 30. The UE of claim 27, wherein, to obtain the PW configuration,the one or more processors are configured to determine the PWconfiguration with the UE based on an application of one or morepredetermined rules to the RS configuration.
 31. The UE of claim 30,wherein, to perform the application of the one or more predeterminedrules, the one or more processors are configured to: determine at leasttwo PW fragments based on the RS configuration; and merge the at leasttwo PW fragments.
 32. The UE of claim 31, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to merge the at least two PW fragments basedon: a determination that a first PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments is separated in time from a second PW fragment of the at leasttwo PW fragments by less than a first threshold amount of time, or adetermination that the first PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments overlaps the second PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments in time by less than a second threshold amount of time, or acombination thereof.
 33. The UE of claim 30, wherein, to perform theapplication of the one or more predetermined rules, the one or moreprocessors are configured to determine at least two PW fragments basedon the RS configuration wherein a first PW fragment of the at least twoPW fragments is separated in time from a second PW fragment of the atleast two PW fragments by less than a first threshold amount of time.34. The UE of claim 27, wherein, to obtain the PW configuration, the oneor more processors are configured to select the PW configuration from aplurality of PW configurations provided to the UE by a serving basestation of the UE.
 35. The UE of claim 27, wherein, to obtain the PWconfiguration, the one or more processors are configured to obtaininformation indicative of: a starting time of the at least one PW, aduration of the at least one PW, a periodicity of the at least one PW, apriority of the one or more RS resources, or an indication of abandwidth part (BWP) of the one or more RS resources, or a combinationthereof.
 36. The UE of claim 27, wherein the one or more processors arefurther configured to send UE capability information from the UE to alocation server, via the transceiver, wherein the RS configuration isreceived at the UE from the location server, responsive to sending theUE capability information.
 37. The UE of claim 27, wherein the one ormore RS resources comprise one or more Positioning Reference Signal(PRS) resources.
 38. The UE of claim 27, wherein, to perform the one ormore measurements with the UE during the one or more RS reception timesof the at least one PW, the one or more processors are configured toassign a higher priority for performing the one or more measurementsthan a priority of other data communication of the UE.
 39. The UE ofclaim 27, wherein the one or more processors are further configured tosend information indicative of the one or more measurements from the UEto a location server via the transceiver.
 40. A base station forcoordinating reference signal (RS) processing for a user equipment (UE),the base station comprising: a transceiver; a memory; and one or moreprocessors communicatively coupled with the transceiver and the memory,wherein the one or more processors are configured to: receive, via thetransceiver, a request for a processing window (PW) configuration forthe UE, wherein: the base station comprises a serving base station ofthe UE, and the request includes information indicative of an RSconfiguration, the RS configuration indicative of a timing of one ormore RS resources; and determine the PW configuration based at least inpart on the information indicative of the RS configuration, wherein thePW configuration comprises information indicative of: one or more RSreception times of at least one PW for performing one or moremeasurements of the one or more RS resources, and a processing time ofthe at least one PW.
 41. The base station of claim 40, wherein the oneor more processors are configured to receive the request for the PWconfiguration from the UE or a location server.
 42. The base station ofclaim 40, wherein the one or more processors are further configured tosend the PW configuration from to the UE.
 43. The base station of claim40, wherein the one or more processors are configured to determine thePW configuration based on an application of one or more predeterminedrules to the information indicative of the RS configuration.
 44. Thebase station of claim 43, wherein, to perform the application of the oneor more predetermined rules, the one or more processors are configuredto: determine at least two PW fragments based on the informationindicative of the RS configuration; and merge the at least two PWfragments.
 45. The base station of claim 44, wherein the one or moreprocessors are configured to merge the at least two PW fragments basedon: a determination that a first PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments is separated in time from a second PW fragment of the at leasttwo PW fragments by less than a first threshold amount of time, or adetermination that the first PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments overlaps the second PW fragment of the at least two PWfragments in time by less than a second threshold amount of time, or acombination thereof.
 46. The base station of claim 43, wherein, toperform the application of the one or more predetermined rules, the oneor more processors are configured to determine at least two PW fragmentsbased on the information indicative of the RS configuration wherein afirst PW fragment of the at least two PW fragments is separated in timefrom a second PW fragment of the at least two PW fragments by less thana first threshold amount of time.
 47. The base station of claim 40,wherein the one or more processors are further configured to provide aplurality of PW configurations to the UE by the base station.
 48. Thebase station of claim 40, wherein, to determine the PW configuration,the one or more processors are configured to determine informationindicative of: a starting time of the at least one PW, a duration of theat least one PW, a periodicity of the at least one PW, a priority of theone or more RS resources, or an indication of a bandwidth part (BWP) ofthe one or more RS resources, or a combination thereof.
 49. The basestation of claim 40, wherein, to determine the PW configuration, the oneor more processors are configured to determine: a radio frequency (RF)chain tuning time, a period of time for non-RS communication, or anuplink (UL) RS transmission time, or a combination thereof.
 50. The basestation of claim 40, wherein the one or more RS resources comprise oneor more Positioning Reference Signal (PRS) resources.